Glendale man pleads in arsons at Griffith Park

A 44-year-old Glendale man on probation for arson pleaded no contest today to arson in connection with a series of fires in Griffith Park last year, the District Attorney's office announced.

Gary Allen Lintz pleaded no contest to one count of arson of a structure or forest and admitted the special allegations of great bodily injury to a firefighter and of having a prior arson conviction, said Deputy District Attorney Frances Young with Target Crimes.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Norm Shapiro sentenced Lintz to 16 years in state prison. In return for his plea, three felony counts of arson in Griffith Park were dismissed.

Lintz was arrested Aug. 23, 2008 after hikers allegedly saw him near Griffith Park Drive shortly after a brush fire had broken out. He was charged with four arsons that occurred on July 27, Aug. 4, Aug. 16 and Aug. 23 in the park. At the time of his arrest, he was on probation for a 2007 arson fire conviction.