By Vicky Wedig
Staff Writer
Two Whitewater roommates are suspected of setting fire to a rental home owned by state Rep. Robin Vos.
Curtis M. Schwab, of Whitewater, and Andrew J. Kvasnicka, of Brookfield, both 22, are charged with arson, a Class C felony offense that carries maximum penalties of up to 40 years in prison and $100,000 in fines.
The two are suspected of setting fire to a house one of them previously rented at 174 S. Whiton St., Whitewater.
Police were called to the home, owned by Vos, on May 16, and found the southwest corner of the house engulfed in 10-foot high flames, according to the criminal complaint. An officer was able to contain the fire with an extinguisher.
A witness reported seeing Matthew D. Schabo, 23, of Appleton, walking toward the house before the fire. Police spoke to Schabo who said he and his roommates – Schwab and Kvasnicka – were walking home when his roommates veered toward the area of 184 S. Whiton St. and Schabo walked to a nearby McDonalds.
Kvasnicka and Schabo were previous tenants of the residence and were involved in a lawsuit with the owner, according to the criminal complaint. Kvasnicka told police he and Schwab went into the residence and saw that no one was there. He said they then went into the garage, found a gas can, dumped gas on the house and lit it with a lighter, according to the complaint.
Vos, a Republican from Rochester who is currently state Assembly speaker, reported the fire caused about $4,000 damage to the house, which is valued at $247,000 according to online real estate records.
Vos said the accused have paid back the $4,000. The house is one of many rental properties he owns in the area, he said.
Schwab and Kvasnicka are scheduled for an initial court appearance Oct. 30. Schabo is not charged in connection with the crime.
Southern Lakes Newspapers reporter Jennifer Eisenbart contributed to this report.
