March 30--BARRON -- A 56-year-old Menomonie man once charged with a felony count of arson for reportedly setting a neighbor's garage and ATV on fire in 2007, pleaded guilty Friday in Barron County Court to a reduced charge of negligent handling of burning material.
Ronald E. Kaiser, of 3303 Wilson St. and formerly of Hager City, was found guilty of the misdemeanor. He was sentenced to six months in jail, with orders to write a letter of apology.
According to court records:
Emergency crews were called on Nov. 23, 2007, to a Turtle Lake residence on a report of a garage fire that was spreading to the home owned by Timothy Moriak, a longtime member of the community's fire department. Four family members escaped unharmed.
As crews worked on the fire, Kaiser, a neighbor at the time, drove his vehicle over fire hoses, almost striking a fire truck. He was eventually convicted of second-offense drunken driving and possession of marijuana.
An investigation indicated three points of origin for the fire, including an ATV about 40 yards from the home, on or near a car close to the garage and inside the garage near another car.
A relative of Kaiser said Kaiser boasted at times how he got away with the fire. He later told police how he started the fire.
Copyright 2014 - The Leader-Telegram, Eau Claire, Wis.
