Contractor charged with causing Summit Fire was victim of 1985 Lexington Fire

The Los Gatos contractor charged with recklessly causing the huge Summit Fire defended himself Monday in his first public interview, saying he's the last person to start a wildfire.

[Walter Young]

I happen to be this good man's nephew and I can never believe that in any way shape or form he would do anything to harm someone. I have known him for years and have never seen a violent or closely harmful thing come out of him. When many others haven't been there for me or for my family he has stuck with the trials and trivulations of the craziness that life has provided us with. He has lost his father (one of the best men I have ever met) along with his home and I still have been around him with no thought or worry about him doing anything even close to what he is accused of.
If anyone were to take the time to talk to this man they would actually realize that he is not a threat and never will be, as well as never was. Stop, I repeat stop, putting this man in your mind as already guilty and open your mind to the possibility that there are others that are just as guilty of not more.
Love you Channing just in case you see this, keep on having hope, and show I know these people will see your true calm respectable citizen side.

[Deborah Hammons]

Channing Verden is innocent