After serving one prison sentence, an arsonist repeatedly fails probation and is sent back to prison

Convicted of arson of grasslands, a felony, in November 2018, defendant Randall Lee Gensaw, age 46, generally of the Ukiah area, was committed to state prison Tuesday for repeat violations of terms of his supervised probation.



After having served his original jail sentence, Gensaw almost immediately violated terms of his probation in early January and was returned to jail for a 45 day sentence.

When he was next released from jail, Gensaw again violated terms of his probation within a week of his release by having a prohibited weapon, along with a lighter on his person, the latter being an instrument that most arsonists are prohibited from possessing.

After coming out on the short end of an evidentiary hearing held Tuesday afternoon wherein the defendant challenged the probation violation charges, it was determined that Gensaw was not amenable to probation. He was then sentenced to 48 months in state prison. The probation department had recommended a 72 month commitment, the maximum sentence allowed by law.