BURNETT COUNTY -- Charges of Attempted Arson have been dismissed for a Grantsburg, WI, man as part of a plea deal settling his criminal cases.
Charles Bentley, of Grantsburg, WI, was facing charges of Class C Felony Attempted Arson of Building without Owner’s Consent, along with charges of Misdemeanor Domestic Abuse Disorderly Conduct. In a separate case, Bentley was also charged with Misdemeanor Criminal Trespass to Dwelling, and Misdemeanor Resisting or Obstructing an Officer.
DrydenWire.com reported first about Bentley’s case in November of 2017 when law enforcement was seeking Bentley in connection to a domestic incident that had occurred in Burnett County.
A criminal complaint filed against Bentley stated that he had allegedly attempted to start a fire in the basement of a residence.
In January 2018, DrydenWire.com reported that the Court placed Bentley on a cash bail bond regarding his criminal charges.
According to online circuit court records, Bentley appeared for a plea hearing in Burnett County Circuit regarding all his pending criminal charges. Bentley’s defense counsel and the Burnett County District Attorney’s office advised the Court that a plea agreement had been negotiated in which Bentley would plead to a misdemeanor charge of Resisting or Obstructing an Officer, and all other charges were to be dismissed.
The Court accepted Bentley’s guilty plea and sentenced him to serve 105 days in county jail with credit for 83 days already served.
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Court Orders Cash Bond for Man Charged with Attempted Arson
Tuesday, January 16, 2018 | DrydenWire
A man charged with attempted arson in Burnett County Circuit Court appeared on January 12, 2018, and has been placed on a $2,500 cash bail bond.
Online circuit court records show that Charles Bentley appeared in Burnett County Circuit Court regarding the charges of Class C Felony Attempted Arson of a Building and Domestic Abuse Disorderly Conduct that was filed against him on following an incident on November 20, 2017.
A warrant for Bentley’s arrest had been issued after the criminal charges were filed. According to the criminal complaint filed against Bentley, a call was received by Burnett County law enforcement reporting that Bentley had started 2 fires in the basement of a residence following a fight with his wife.
Deputies located heat lamps in the basement with paper attached to them and they both appeared charred. The complaint also states that prior to the arrival of law enforcement, the wife’s brother had located a natural gas line in the residence which had been loosened. A tenant in the upstairs apartment of the residence reported that she heard fighting and woke up to the smell of smoke.
Bentley has been ordered to have no contact with the residence where the attempted arson occurred as well as having no contact with 2 individuals involved in the situation.
An initial appearance has been scheduled in Burnett County Circuit Court for Bentley later this week. At the time of this post, it is believed that Bentley remains in the custody of the Burnett County Jail.
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.
**Previous Post Below**
Arrest Warrant Issued on Attempted Arson Charges Filed Against Grantsburg Man
Wednesday, November 22, 2017 | DrydenWire
An arrest warrant has been issued in Burnett County Circuit Court for Charles Robert Bentley in relation to a criminal complaint charging Bentley with Class C Felony Attempted Arson of a Building and Domestic Abuse Disorderly Conduct.
On November 6, 2017, DrydenWire.com reported that the Burnett County Sheriff’s Department was attempting to locate Bentley regarding a reported domestic abuse incident from November 5, 2017.
According to the criminal complaint which was filed on November 20, 2017, an anonymous call was received by Burnett County law enforcement reporting that Bentley had started 2 fires in the basement of a residence following a fight with his wife. The complaint goes on to state that the wife’s brother smelled smoke coming from the basement after he heard Bentley leave the residence and went downstairs. He could see 2 heat lamps smoking and he could smell natural gas. He then found a natural gas line which had been loosened, so he reattached that.
When deputies arrived, they observed that paper was attached to the heat lamps and they both appeared charred. A witness from an upstairs apartment reported that she hearing the fighting and woke up to the smell of smoke.
The maximum penalty for the charge of Class C Felony Attempted Arson of a building is imprisonment for not more than 20 years, a maximum fine of $50,000, or both.
Online circuit court records show that a warrant for Charles Bentley’s arrest was filed on November 21, 2017.
Anyone with information about Bentley’s whereabouts can contact the Burnett County Sheriff’s Office at 715-349-2121.
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: Apr 12, 2018 9:17 am CDT
