Larimer County prosecutors filed a motion to dismiss the arson charge and said they’re disappointed the person responsible for starting the fire remains unknown.
LARIMER COUNTY — Prosecutors filed a motion Thursday to dismiss an arson charge against the man who was once accused of starting the Alexander Mountain fire and said new evidence indicated he could not have started the fire that burned more than 9,500 acres and destroyed 26 homes and 20 outbuildings in July 2024.
Four other homes were damaged. Jason Hobby was arrested in September of that year. On Thursday, prosecutors said they could not proceed with the arson case.
“It would be unethical for a District Attorney’s Office to pursue a prosecution in which they did not believe the correct person was charged,” the Larimer County District Attorney’s Office said in a statement. “In this case, the District Attorney’s Office cannot proceed on the arson charge against Mr. Hobby because evidence related to Mr. Hobby’s whereabouts, his potential alibi, access to the fire origin location, and digital evidence from his cellphone all provide direct evidence that he is unlikely to have started the Alexander Mountain fire.”…