ALBANY, Ore. — A Navy veteran with mental health issues pleaded guilty Thursday in Linn County Circuit Court to crimes related to a string of arsons this fall in the Scio area.
Zachary Lee Burghart, 29, was convicted of second-degree arson and three counts of first-degree criminal mischief.
A sentence of 18 months in prison was suspended, however, and Burghart was given five years supervised probation and credit for time already served.
Prosecutor Michael Wynhausen said the lower-than-typical sentence, agreed to in plea negotiations, was because of Burghart’s lack of criminal history.
Burghart has post-traumatic stress disorder, and was injured and declared disabled while in the military, said defense attorney James Huffman.
The crimes occurred while Burghart was trying to transfer his treatment from Portland to Salem, and he was off his medication, Huffman added.
“The first day the police interviewed him, he gave his confession,” he said. “If it wasn’t for the confession, they didn’t have much evidence.”
At the hearing, Burghart told Judge David Delsman, “I screwed up, and I’m willing to do whatever I need to do to repay it.”
That could mean a lot of money, and Burghart said his disability keeps him from working.
“The money is going to be way, way, way over $100,000,” said victim Christina Eastman.
Delsman kept restitution open for 90 days, and noted that it wouldn’t cover the sentimental value of items.
Eastman said she was planning to restore her late father’s pickup, which was destroyed in one of the blazes.
“It’s been extremely heartbreaking for my mother and the whole community. (Burghart) put the fear of God in the whole community of Scio,” Eastman said.
According to authorities, Burghart had been staying with family members on Eastman’s property where the fires occurred:
• On Oct. 14, brush and grass were set ablaze in a ditch.
• On Oct. 17, a fire destroyed a Lincoln Town Car.
• On Oct. 23, a flames scorched a barn and destroyed the pickup inside.
• On Oct. 25, a fire destroyed another barn and about $15,000 in hay.
Burghart was arrested Oct. 25 and had been in the Linn County Jail since.
Three additional counts of second-degree arson, another charge of first-degree criminal mischief and a count of reckless burning were dismissed at sentencing.
