PHOENIX (CBS5) -
A Mesa man will stand trial on September 11, on charges connected to sparking the nearly 18,000-acre Sunflower Fire in the Tonto National Forest after he fired a shotgun loaded with a flame-throwing shell.
Steven Craig Shiflet made his initial appearance in federal court Friday afternoon. Clean-shaven and wearing a suit, the 23 year old was soft-spoken when he answered the judge. Shiflet faces three charges, each of which carries a maximum penalty of six months in prison and a $5,000 fine, if convicted.
Elizabeth J. Krushek was appointed Shiflet's attorney, after the judge determined he could not afford a lawyer.
Krushek, Shiflet and his family declined to comment after the brief hearing.
Shiflet was target shooting with four other friends at a bachelor party campout in May, when he pointed the shotgun at a soda box in a cleared area. Smoke soon appeared in the brush, and the group couldn't extinguish the blaze.
Shiflet told investigators he called 911 to report the fire and was told to leave the area.
He will be back in court for a pre-trial hearing August 9.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
