One defendant set to go to trial
By Vicky Wedig
Staff Writer
Four of the five men charged with burning down an abandoned house in the Town of Troy four years ago have pleaded guilty to lesser charges.
Jesse Brooks, 23, of Mukwonago, Louis L. Hojnacki, 20, of Eagle, and Shawn J. Haus, 20, of Delavan, pleaded guilty in November and December in Walworth County Circuit Court to arson to property other than a building. The charge carries maximum penalties of 3 ½ years in prison and $10,000 in fines.
An arson charge against Kyle J. Kuntz, 22, of Broomfield. Colo., was dismissed. He instead pleaded guilty Dec. 7 to negligent handling of burning material, criminal damage to property and disorderly conduct – all misdemeanors.
The men were initially charged with arson of a building, which carries maximum penalties of 40 years in prison and $100,000 in fines.
Haus is scheduled to be sentenced on the lesser charge Jan. 17; Brooks, on Feb. 15; and Hojnacki, March 7. Kuntz is scheduled to be sentenced on the misdemeanor charges on March 7.
A fifth man – Ryan J. Jones, 23, of Mukwonago – has not reached a plea agreement and is scheduled to go on trial Feb. 11 and 12.
According to the criminal complaint:
A house at W3748 Little Prairie Road, which had been abandoned for about 20 years, burned on Feb. 10, 2009.
The east end of the single-story portion of the house sustained a large amount of damage and essentially collapsed into the basement. The owners of the home said they intended to remodel it and did not give anyone permission to burn it.
A sheriff’s detective spoke to men who confessed to the fire including Brooks, who said he and others were at a friend’s house where a person named Joe from East Troy said he had always wanted to tear or burn down the Little Prairie Road house that the state was considering razing. Brooks said “Joe” told the group he would provide free marijuana to anyone who burned it down and gave the boys directions to the house.
Brooks said he, Hojnacki, Jones, Kuntz and Haus went to the house with a plastic bottle of gasoline, wrapped their feet in plastic to avoid leaving footprints and walked up to the house.
Brooks said he attempted to ignite the house from the outside by splashing gasoline on the wooden exterior but it was too wet and windy. Brooks said Jones and Hojnacki went inside while he and Kuntz tried to move a propane tank that was next to the house to avoid an explosion.
Brooks said while he and Jones were trying to move the tank, they saw an orange glow and realized the house was on fire.
Brooks said Hojnacki and Jones found some curtains and other items inside, which they lit to ignite other items inside the house.
