By Associated Press - Thursday, March 27, 2014

CASPER, Wyo. (AP) - A Casper man on probation for starting a fire that injured two people in 2011 could go to prison for allegedly starting another fire.

Fifty-four-year-old Wibert Abyeta entered an Alford plea Wednesday in connection with a fire in a garage at a home where he was staying in October. An Alford plea doesn’t acknowledge guilt but concedes there is sufficient evidence for a conviction.

The Casper Star-Tribune (https://bit.ly/1loKaeX ) reports that inspectors found evidence that materials had been placed on the fire.

Defense attorney Robert Oldham said Abeyta couldn’t remember what happened because he was drunk. The judge asked Abyeta to enter an Alford plea, instead of a guilty plea.

Abyeta’s plea deal from the 2011 fire is still in effect. It limits his potential prison sentence to four to six years.

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Information from: Casper (Wyo.) Star-Tribune, https://www.trib.com

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