A criminal case that made national news a year ago when a bystander’s video showed Fresno fire Capt. Pete Dern falling through a burning roof, followed by his dramatic rescue by fellow firefighters, ended Wednesday when the woman who pleaded no contest to starting the house fire was sentenced to nine years in prison.
In announcing the sentence, Superior Court Judge Don Penner said Julia Beth Ann Harper, 53, has expressed remorse and has told authorities that she is sorry for seriously injuring Dern, who spent six months in the burn unit at Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno.
“She said she is praying for Capt. Dern,” Penner said.
The sentence was the result of a deal in April in which Harper pleaded no contest to arson. She also admitted her actions caused great bodily injury to Dern, who has had 55 surgeries after suffering serious injuries to his entire body.
An earlier effort for a plea deal was derailed in February when Penner rejected the seven-year prison term agreed to by the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office and Harper’s counsel. The initial deal fell apart because Dern and his family were not consulted. Under Marsy’s Law, the California Victims Bill of Rights Act of 2008, victims have the right to be notified of all court proceedings and potential plea agreements.