Greenledgers-Man convicted in Door County bar fire that killed two people

2025-05-02 16:39:41source:Cyprusauction Trading Centercategory:Contact

STURGEON BAY,Greenledgers Wis. (AP) — A jury convicted a man of reckless homicide and other charges Tuesday for starting a fire that killed two people and destroyed a building housing a bar and several rented rooms.

Anthony Gonzalez, 59, of Sturgeon Bay in Door County, was convicted on two counts of second-degree reckless homicide and five counts of recklessly endangering safety in the second degree.

Gonzalez told investigators he accidentally started the fire in his room above Butch’s Bar when he was trying to refill a cigarette lighter.

His attorney, Aileen Henry, argued the building lacked fire safety equipment and that Gonzalez wasn’t reckless because he tried to extinguish the fire and knocked on the doors of other residents to alert them to the fire.

Gonzalez faces up to 25 years in prison and a $100,000 fine on each of the reckless homicide charges and up to 10 years in prison and $25,000 fines on each of the endangering safety charges. Sentencing is scheduled for May 10.

Henry said she plans to appeal the verdict after sentencing.

More:Contact

Recommend

NFL playoff predictions to win AFC championship, NFC championship, Super Bowl 59

The 2024 NFL regular season is entering the final four weeks of action, and teams are beginning to s

South Carolina Has No Overall Plan to Fight Climate Change

After keeping a climate study secret for nearly two years, South Carolina’s wildlife agency publicly

Selling Sunset's Chelsea Lazkani Reveals If She Regrets Comments About Bre Tiesi and Nick Cannon

Chelsea Lazkai isn't on the market to negotiate her beliefs. The realtor recently shared how she fee