This Tuesday evening, the judgment did not take long to fall. It only took about twenty minutes. “The facts are very serious” wanted to remind the president several times. “We are still worried” she concluded. Corentin, a young man of 19 appeared for three forest fires and two attempts in the Landes de Gascogne forest. The facts took place between April 16 and June 11, 2022 in Lucbardez-et-Bargues as well as in Maillères.
The 19-year-old had the same method each time: spraying the ground with an inflammable product (a mixture of gasoline and oil), setting fire to a sheet of paper in the middle of the woods and then fleeing. . The arsonist thus burned 2 hectares on April 16 in Lucbardez-et-Bargues, 10 hectares the next day still in Lucbardez. A month later, on May 16, once again in Lucbardez, he will try to light a fire that will not take. On May 17, still in the town of Lucbardez, the fire broke out “next to a gas pipe”. Nearly one hectare will burn. Finally on June 11, in Maillères, he tries to start a fire but without success. It was then that he was caught in the act by witnesses. The cops arrest him. During his police custody at the beginning of July, he recognizes the facts.
This Tuesday afternoon, it’s a kid who comes to the bar. White hoodie, beige pants and white sneakers. The hair is short. The mustache is fine. Corentin will be 20 in a few months. He doesn’t do them. Several times moreover the president will insist on her immaturity. The young man is not talkative. “We had the union minimum” will also regret the prosecutor.
It was an impulse, it became an addiction. -Corentin
At the helm, Corentin acknowledges the facts. The answers are laconic, without any emotion. “I did not measure the dangerousness of what I was doing.” The court does not believe anything and to remind him of his commitment to the volunteer firefighters as well as to the DFCI (defense of the forest against fires). For the public prosecutor, he dishonored the profession. These acts are criminal. The Public Ministry is asking for 4 years in prison, of which 3 years are closed. The defense pleads behavioral disorder. The psychiatrist expert speaks of pyromania. What Corentin readily acknowledges. The latter admits a fascination for fire, recognizing “that adrenaline rush when he lights a fire”. “It was an impulse, he says. It became an addiction.“
The Mont-de-Marsan court therefore condemns the 19-year-old young man to 3 years in prison including 1 year closed with obligation of care, obligation to work and to compensate the victims. Permanent ban from working in the public service. Corentin will therefore not be able to work in the army. He had applied and had an appointment on November 30 in Bordeaux. Defense “retains the possibility of appealing”.