Larimer County DA Drops Arson Charge Against Jason Alexander Hobby

“The individual responsible for setting the fire remains unknown and accountability for their losses has not yet come.”

That’s the blunt assessment from the 8th Judicial District Attorney’s Office after prosecutors dropped the arson charge against Jason Alexander Hobby, the man initially pinned as the culprit behind the destructive Alexander Mountain fire.

It’s a significant pivot for Larimer County. Hobby, 51, was arrested in September 2024, shortly after the blaze scorched nearly 10,000 acres and destroyed more than 50 structures, including 26 homes, west of Loveland. For months, the theory was simple: Hobby started it. Now, new evidence suggests he might not have had a thing to do with it.

The DA’s office moved to dismiss the charge Thursday, citing evidence that “directly contradicted original theories.” It wasn’t just a hunch. Investigators dug into hundreds of witness interviews, hundreds of police reports, and over a terabyte of digital data. They looked at cellphone records, access logs, and alibi details. The conclusion? It’s unlikely Hobby ignited the fire.

“It would be unethical for a District Attorney’s Office to pursue a prosecution in which they did not believe the correct person was charged,” the office said in a statement.

So, why did they charge him in the first place? And why drop it now?

The answer lies in the sheer volume of data reviewed. The investigation wasn’t a quick sweep. It involved multiple forensic reports and hundreds of hours of body-worn camera footage. The new evidence specifically targeted Hobby’s potential alibi and his access to the fire’s origin point. If he wasn’t there, or couldn’t have been there at the right time, the arson case crumbles.

Hobby isn’t free and clear, though. He’s still facing other charges — impersonating a peace officer, impersonating a public servant, felony menacing, and false imprisonment. He’s pleaded not guilty to all of them. His trial is set to begin in July. He posted bond and was released from jail just two days after his arrest in September, so he’s been out of custody while this legal chess game played out.

But here’s what’s really bothering folks around here: no one else has been arrested.

The August 2024 fire was a nightmare for the community. It tore through the landscape, leaving dozens of families to rebuild or start over. Yet, despite the arrest of Hobby, no other suspects have been taken into custody in connection with the fire itself. The DA’s office noted that “all resources to determine the identity of the person who started the fire have been expended.”

That’s a lot of money and manpower gone. For a community that has seen wildfires become a frequent, traumatic threat, the cost of that uncertainty is high. The DA’s office expressed “significant disappointment” that accountability hasn’t arrived. The person who lit the match is still out there.

Hobby’s trial will focus on whether he impersonated officials and menaced people, not necessarily whether he burned down the mountain. The arson charge was the big one — the one that tied him to the destruction of homes and land. Without it, the link between Hobby and the fire is broken.

The question now is whether the DA’s office will reopen the arson investigation with a fresh set of eyes, or if the case goes cold. The resources have been expended, as they say. But for the homeowners who lost their houses, the loss of accountability stings.

“We join in the significant disappointment of our community,” the statement read.

It’s a heavy sentiment. The fire is gone, the smoke has cleared, but the mystery remains. And until the true arsonist is found, the community is left waiting.