WJJQ LOCAL NEWS
Tomahawk man pleads guilty
Tuesday, May 27, 2008

A TOMAHAWK MALE, PART OF A MULTI-COUNTY BURGLARY AND ARSON RING HAS PLEADED GUILTY TO 26 COUNTS. COURT DOCUMENTS STATE, THAT IN 2006, 21 YEAR OLD JACOB BAARS AND UP TO 6 ACCOMPLICES WOULD BURGLARIZE, AND ON THREE OCCASIONS, BURN DOWN CABINS IN LINCOLN AND SURROUNDING COUNTIES. NO ONE WAS INJURED IN THE ARSON FIRES IN THE TOWNS OF TOMAHAWK, ROCK FALLS AND BRADLEY. IN THE BURGLARIES, THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF ITEMS STOLEN INCLUDED GUNS, ALCOHOL, TOOLS AND CASH. TWO BUSINESSES, THE DOG POUND AND ZINGER’S PAINTBALL WERE ALSO HIT. ZINGER’S, ON MUSKELLUNGE LAKE ROAD HAD OVER 6,000 DOLLARS IN DAMAGE.

IN SEPTEMBER OF 2006, JACOB BAARS AND AN ACCOMPLICE, RAY MIKKELSON OF RHINELANDER, DELIBERATLEY SHOT 2 HORSES OFF OF GRUNDY ROAD IN THE TOWN OF SKANAWAN. ONE WAS KILLED THE SECOND INJURED.

FOLLOWING A LENGTHY INVESTIGATION, WHICH FOUND MANY OF THE STOLEN ITEMS BEING FENCED IN MINNESOTA, JACOB BAARS AND THE OTHERS, WOULD BE ARRESTED. ACCORDING TO STATE SENTENCING GUIDELINES, JACOB BAARS WAS FACING OVER 180 YEARS IN PRISON ON MULTIPLE COUNTS OF BEING PARTY TO ARSON, BURGLARY, THEFT AND CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY, PLUS CHARGES RELATED THE HORSE KILLING. A PLEA AGREEMENT WAS APPARENTLY REACHED BETWEEN LINCOLN COUNTY DA DON DUNPHY AND DEFENSE ATTORNEY WRIGHT LAUFENBERG. JUDGE GLEN HARTLEY HAS ORDERED A PRE-SENTENCE INVESTIGATION. SENTENCING IS SCHEDULED FOR A WEEK FROM THURSDAY (6/5).

Return to:  Local News