A Durango man pleaded guilty Friday to felony arson, his second conviction in less than two years for intentionally starting a fire.
Duane Suazo, 51, will be screened for mental health court, an intense supervisory program that addresses mental health problems. He will have to comply with recommended treatment and stay out of trouble.
He also faces three years probation, according to a plea agreement he signed Friday with the 6th Judicial District Attorney’s Office.
Suazo set fire to his sister’s shed about 6:45 p.m. Jan. 19 in the 700 block of East First Street in South Durango. He told police he was upset with his sister and burned the shed for “revenge.”
He also admitted to consuming methamphetamine, marijuana and alcohol, according to an arrest affidavit filed in La Plata County Combined Courts.
“Duane claimed to hear voices and decided to ‘burn it,’” the affidavit says.
He apparently used two lighters, newspapers and other items to start the blaze.
Suazo was arrested in September 2015 at the same address for starting a fire on a shed. He pleaded guilty that year to misdemeanor arson and was sentenced to 90 days in jail with credit for time served.
At the time, police said Suazo was dealing with some “serious mental health issues” and was possibly on meth. He was seen cutting things up with a knife and feeding the fire.
shane@durangoherald.com
