Steven Gene Hensley, 36, was sentenced by Judge John Behnke in line with a stipulated plea agreement previously offered by District Attorney David Eyster, and accepted by Hensley and his appointed public defender.
Hensley’s sentence requires that he register for life as an arson offender when he is eventually released from prison, the Mendocino County District Attorney’s Office reported.
Hensley additionally was ordered to pay restitution for fire damages and firefighting costs totaling $354,138, officials said.
Hensley in December entered guilty pleas to 19 separate counts of arson instead of going forward with a schedule January jury trial.
He admitted to setting fires in various locations in and around the Willits area starting on July 4, 2011, and continuing through Aug. 21, 2011.
Eyster has previously cited the role of Cal Fire Captains Shawn Zimmermaker and Craig Dudley for their work in the Hensley investigation.
“The defendant had no way out of this one and he realized it. We have Zimmermaker and Dudley to thank for this,” Eyster said at the time Hensley entered his guilty pleas.
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