CAMARILLO : Farmer Acquitted of Reckless Burning

Farmer Bill Brucker set out to kill squirrels on his property last August. His weapon was fire. His method was flawed. Along with the squirrels, he destroyed 15 acres and his neighbors’ house, garage and cars.

No one was hurt in the fire, which Brucker, 67, of Camarillo said he started Aug. 15 by pouring gasoline and oil down squirrel holes because they were eating his crops.

A Ventura County Superior Court jury acquitted Brucker on Thursday of two reckless burning charges because they were not convinced that he showed a blatant disregard for Joe and Maria Simka’s neighboring property. The jury failed to reach a verdict on a third charge of negligence in burning 15 acres of brush.

“The jury felt that maybe he was stupid, but that he wasn’t aware of the risk that he would burn the house down,” Deputy Dist. Atty. Richard Simon said.

Prosecutors will decide Monday whether to recharge Brucker with burning the brush.

“My recommendation is not to go ahead,” because three of the 12 people on the jury found him innocent, Simon said Friday. Prosecutors will reach a decision Monday morning, he said.