Prosecution of three area residents responsible for several intentional fires is winding down, with two more guilty pleas expected today.
Jessica Miller and Donald Halbur Jr., both of Crivitz, are scheduled to plead guilty today in federal court to arson in connection with the July 2012 fire at Miller’s bar in the town of Bagley.
Their trial was to begin Monday in federal court in Green Bay before defense attorneys notified the court on Oct. 25 that their clients intend to plead guilty.
Terms of the plea agreement were not available.
According to court documents, Miller asked Drew Christensen, of Suring, to set fire to Miller’s Jaded Bar in Bagley to collect the insurance proceeds.
Christensen, 29, a former town of Brazeau volunteer firefighter, subsequently also confessed to burning down Miller’s town of Stephenson residence in June 2011 so Miller could obtain insurance money to buy a bar.
Miller obtained a $268,000 settlement from her property insurer. She collected $26,000 for the Jaded Bar fire from a personal property insurance policy.
Christensen pleaded guilty this summer to starting the Jaded Bar and town of Stephenson fires. He had agreed to testify against Miller and Halbur in federal court and in Marinette County, where the three individuals each had been charged with arson.
Miller, 37, and Halbur, 32, pleaded guilty in August in Marinette County Circuit Court in connection with the June 2011 house fire. Last month they were each sentenced to five years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. They also are jointly responsible for restitution of $293,000.
Christensen’s sentencing in Marinette County is set for Nov. 14.
Christensen also has pleaded guilty in federal count to setting fire to the 100-year-old Klondike Community Church, which was destroyed in the March 2012 blaze, and to setting fire to the Everbreeze Bar in the town of Mountain in October 2009.
Christensen pleaded no contest in August to arson charges in Oconto County Circuit Court involving a town of Bagley garage in January 2012 and an August 2011 intentional fire. His sentencing is set for Nov. 18.
Christensen’s federal sentencing has been reset for Nov. 13. Maximum federal statutory penalties for arson are 20 years in prison per conviction, but Assistant U.S. Attorney William Roach will recommend Christensen serve a 10-year sentence.
Miller and Halbur were also charged in federal court with mail fraud in connection with the insurance fraud scheme. Maximum penalties for mail fraud are five years. Maximum Wisconsin penalties for arson are 25 years in prison.
Categories
