United States v. Robert W. Launder

REINHARDT, Circuit Judge:

Appellant Robert W. Launder was convicted of violating 18 U.S.C. § 1856 (1982). That section provides that

*688[wjhoever, having kindled ... a fire in or near any forest ... upon any lands ... of the United States, ... leaves said fire without totally extinguishing the same, or permits or suffers said fire to burn or spread beyond his control, or leaves or suffers said fire to burn unattended, shall be fined not more than $500 or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.

Launder was sentenced by the district court to three years probation and was ordered to perform 400…