BURNETT COUNTY — A Danbury, WI man has been sentenced on his convictions stemming from a Burnett County arson case from 2017.
Previously, DrydenWire.com reported (see below) that two Danbury, WI men were charged in Burnett County Circuit Court as parties to an arson of a trailer home that occurred shortly after midnight on Nov. 25, 2017 near Danbury.
Two people were inside the home when the fire was set. An adult female was seriously burned inside the home. A young child avoided burns by escaping through a window.
Rusty Matrious
Rusty Matrious plead guilty in February 2019 to his charge of Class C Felony Arson of Building w/o Owner's Consent (Party to a Crime). His remaining charges of Class D Felony 1st Degree Reckless Injury (Party to a Crime), Class F Felony 1st-Degree Recklessly Endangering Safety (Party to a Crime), and Misdemeanor Resisting or Obstructing were dismissed but read in.
Matrious appeared for a sentencing hearing in Burnett County Circuit Court on July 15, 2019 regarding his criminal charges.
At the sentencing hearing on July 15, the Hon. Melissia Mogen ordered a 20 year sentence; 5 years of initial confinement in state prison to be followed by 15 years of extended supervision. Conditions of Matrious’ supervision will require him to complete anger management, a mental health assessment, and any other programs as recommended by his agent and follow all recommendations. Matrious must also complete all treatment programs available while incarcerated and maintain absolute sobriety.
Additional charges of Class H Felony Bail Jump and Misdemeanor Disorderly Conduct in a separate case against Matrious were also dismissed but read in. Matrious still faces pending criminal charges of Class F Felony Possess w/ Intent-Amphetamine(<=3g), Misdemeanor Possession of THC (Marijuana), Misdemeanor Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Class H Felony Bail Jumping, Misdemeanor Resisting or Obstructing, and Misdemeanor Criminal Damage to Property filed against him in two more Burnett County Circuit Court cases. Details of those cases are not known to DrydenWire.com at this time.
Kawliga Tucker
Kawliga Tucker, also of Danbury, was charged as a co-defendant in the matter; in November 2018, Tucker plead guilty to his charge of Class C Felony Arson of Building w/o Owner's Consent (Party to a Crime),. His other charges of Class D Felony 1st Degree Reckless Injury (Party to a Crime), and Class F Felony 1st-Degree Recklessly Endangering Safety (Party to a Crime) were dismissed but read in.
At a hearing in April 2019 Tucker was sentenced to a withheld sentence of 8 years probation with 1 year of conditional jail time and 100 hours of community service. Conditions of Tucker’s probation also require him to maintain absolute sobriety. The Court also ordered that should Tucker have any test results positive for drugs during his period of sobriety, he is to serve 90 days conditional jail time for each test result.
**Previous Post**
Two Charged With Arson In Danbury Fire
DrydenWire.com l Tuesday, December 12, 2017
BURNETT COUNTY -- Two Danbury men are charged in Burnett County Circuit Court as parties to an alleged arson of a trailer home that occurred shortly after midnight on Nov. 25 near Danbury.
Two people were inside the home when the fire allegedly was set. An adult female was seriously burned inside the home. A young child avoided burns by escaping through a window.
In addition to the arson charge, Kawliga James Tucker, 18 and Rusty Jay Matrious, 24, were also charged with First Degree Reckless Injury as parties to a crime and First Degree Recklessly Endangering Safety as parties to a crime.
The criminal complaint states as the two men were walking on the road near the home, they allegedly told a man driving past that they had set the fire. That driver went to the home and rescued the woman by pulling her out of the house. Another man also assisted her. She had sustained serious burns and was airlifted to a hospital.
At least two other individuals also reportedly told law enforcement that Matrious and Tucker had said they set fire to the trailer home.
The crime of arson is a Class C Felony. Conviction may result in a fine of not more than $100,000, or imprisonment of not more than 40 years, or both.
The charge of First Degree Reckless Injury is a Class D Felony. Conviction may result in a fine of not more than $100,000, or imprisonment of not more than 25 years, or both.
The charge of First Degree Recklessly Endangering Safety as parties to a crime is a Class F Felony. Conviction may result in a fine of not more than $25,000, imprisonment of not more than twelve 12 years, six 6 months, or both.
The two, who the report says were heavily inebriated at the time of the incident, were arrested separately.
Matrious allegedly struggled with the officers as they arrested him, leading to an additional charge of resisting an officer, a Class A Misdemeanor.
Tucker & Matrious both appeared in Burnett County Circuit Court for bail bond hearings on November 27, 2017, and were placed on cash bail bonds of $500.
Pursuant to the direction of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, as found in Supreme Court Rule 20:3.6, Trial Publicly, you are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Last Update: Jul 19, 2019 3:00 pm CDT
