Waupaca County Man Sentenced on Conviction of Arson

WAUPACA - Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen announced today that a former firefighter, Christopher Doering, was sentenced on August 2, 2010, in Waupaca County Circuit Court for arson.

Van Hollen said Waupaca County Circuit Judge Philip M. Kirk sentenced Doering to four years initial confinement followed by three years extended supervision, imposed and stayed. The court ordered that Doering serve four years probation and is to serve six months in the county jail as a condition of the probation. Doering was also ordered to pay court costs.

Judge Kirk ordered Doering to pay restitution in the amount of $13,192.24 to the holder of the land contract on the home that was destroyed, and $3,000 to Pekin Insurance.

Doering was convicted on June 2, 2010, upon his plea to the charge of arson of a building in connection with a fire at his Waupaca County home in 2005.

According to the criminal complaint filed by the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Doering was home alone on the evening of September 1, 2005.

Doering stated that the lights flickered and he reset a fuse. He claimed that he noticed fire in his bedroom closet. Doering stated that he tried to put the fire out but was unsuccessful. Doering stated he was familiar with fires as he previously served as a firefighter. The clothing worn by Doering on the evening of September 1, 2005, was collected by law enforcement. A Wisconsin State Crime lab analysis of Doering's shoes and blue jeans revealed the presence of a volatile mixture consistent with gasoline. An ignitable liquid detection dog was deployed and alerted to the presence of ignitable liquid throughout several rooms within the house.

The investigation also revealed that Doering made statements at a deposition where he admitted that he knew the house was in foreclosure and that he was served on August 31, 2005, with a notice that the house would be sold at a Sheriff's sale. Shortly after the September 1, 2005, fire, Doering submitted a claim for insurance proceeds.

The criminal complaint was filed in Waupaca County on September 30, 2009.

Assistant Attorneys General Erik Peterson and Eric Défort are serving as special prosecutors for Waupaca County.