Michael Austin Ford, 60, of West Valley City, was sentenced on June 1 to 60 months’ imprisonment for setting a Granite School District school bus on fire in April 2023.
The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Court Judge David Sam after Ford pleaded guilty on March 26 to arson of a vehicle belonging to an organization receiving federal funds. In addition to the prison term, Ford received three years of supervised release and must pay $21,690.42 in restitution.
According to court documents and admissions made at Ford’s change of plea and sentencing hearings, he intentionally set the school bus on fire with a cigarette lighter while driving it on April 7, 2023. Video footage captured Ford igniting the bus and continuing to drive as smoke billowed past his face. Prosecutors said that prior to the incident, Ford attempted to tamper with the vehicle’s video surveillance system. On another occasion in February 2022, Ford was accused of setting another Granite School District school bus—this one carrying 42 children—on fire while driving in traffic; however, that charge was dismissed as part of his plea agreement.
“Protecting our most vulnerable population is a top priority of this administration and my office,” said U.S. Attorney Melissa Holyoak of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah. “I want to thank our law enforcement partners and my office who worked tirelessly on this case to bring it to a close and hold Mr. Ford accountable for his intentional disregard for safety and the law.”
“ATF’s top priority is protecting our communities from violent crimes, including acts of arson,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Chris Ashbridge. “We commend our partners at the Utah State Fire Marshal’s Office for their incredible work on this investigation, as well as the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Utah, which collectively ensured justice was served today.” The case was investigated jointly by the Utah State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Thorpe prosecuted the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah.
The Justice Department serves as the principal federal agency for law enforcement with more than 115,000 employees operating across all states and over 50 countries worldwide; its focus includes upholding rule of law and safeguarding civil rights under leadership that currently includes Merrick B. Garland as its Attorney General since March 11, 2021, according to its official website.