Forest Service worker to plead guilty to Colorado wildfire
DENVER, Colorado (CNN) -- A U.S. Forest Service worker accused of starting the largest wildfire in Colorado history will plead guilty to federal charges, her lawyers said Wednesday.
Terry Barton is scheduled to appear in federal court December 6 to change her plea to guilty, said Jessica Leto, an aide to Barton's public defender, Rick Williamson.
Barton, 38, a former forestry technician, is accused of starting the massive Hayman wildfire south of Denver in June. The blaze eventually scorched more than 100,000 acres of tinder-dry forest before firefighters brought it under control.
Barton told investigators she accidentally started the blaze last June while burning a letter from her estranged husband. Authorities believe she started the fire deliberately.
The blaze outside Denver destroyed more than 130 homes and cost more than $29 million to battle. A firefighter broke his arm.
Barton, 38, faces four federal charges, including arson and injuring a firefighter. She was fired after her arrest.
Barton has been free on $600,000 bail and was staying at a halfway house, but a federal judge allowed her to leave in September.
The Forest Service fired Barton after her arrest in June.
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Associated Press contributed to this report.
