WEST BEND, Wis. — Kyle Schellinger, 21, of Hartford, appeared in Washington County Circuit Court on Friday for two felony arson charges and one misdemeanor retail theft charge related to two barn fires in the Towns of Hartford and Addison.
According to the criminal complaint, Schellinger is accused of setting the fires in September and stealing a bag of Skittles from a Slinger Kwik Trip on the night of the second blaze. If convicted, he faces up to 80.75 years in prison and $210,000 in fines.
The first fire occurred Sept. 4 at a horse barn on Schellinger’s parents’ property in Hartford. Fire investigators determined the blaze, which caused $200,000 in damages, was intentionally set. All animals were rescued without injury.
A second fire took place Sept. 28 at a nearby barn in Addison, where homeowners managed to extinguish the flames before reporting them. Only $720 in damages were reported.
Investigators later interviewed a witness who confirmed Schellinger had been with her that night and was later seen near the victims’ property. Schellinger ultimately admitted to starting both fires, telling detectives, “It was me, I don’t know what I was doing. I wasn’t mentally right,” and saying he sought an “adrenaline high.”
He allegedly used gasoline and a torch in one fire and a lighter in the other.
Judge Gordon Leech set Schellinger’s bond at $10,000 cash and ordered an inpatient mental health evaluation. His next court appearance is scheduled for Nov. 7 at 11 a.m.
