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David J. Potter, of Warrens, had his initial court appearance on May 19 for his alleged role in the burning of a Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) fire observation tower in June of 2007.

According to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department, Potter is facing charges of Arson of a Building and Criminal Damage to Property. He is accused of setting fire to a WDNR fire observation tower in the township of Knapp in Jackson County. The tower was located on Jackson County Forest land.

Detective Scott Bowe reported that he had been assigned to investigate the fire that was reported by Theresa Gilmour, who is a fire spotter that worked at the Knapp Tower. Upon investigation, the remains of the tower on the ground included sheets of tin siding, burned pieces of wood and broken glass. What appeared to be an LP heater and two LP tanks were laying on the ground in the area of the tower and were also burned, according to the Jackson County Circuit Court report.

On Feb. 21, 2008, Detective Bowe received interview reports from Detective Clayton Tester with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department and Investigator Robert Walensky of the Tomah Police Department regarding the case. Tester and Walensky reported that they had interviewed Potter on in January of 2008 regarding the case and a Monroe County case. During the interview, Potter admitted he had set fire to the WDNR fire tower located on Tower Road in Jackson County. He also indicated that Dusty L. Beltz and Joshua M. Garber were present with him when he burned it down.

According to the Jackson County Circuit Court report, Potter had explained the fire during the interview. The report states that Potter told investigators that he, along with Beltz and Garber, were hanging out on Tower Road after attending graduation parties. It was a windy evening and they discussed how quickly the tower would burn in the windy conditions if it were to catch on fire. Potter admitted that he then decided to start the tower on fire. He drove back to his father’s house and got bolt cutters and gasoline and returned to the tower. He started the tower on fire and all three men ran back to the vehicle.

After his initial court appearance on May 19, Potter was given a signature bond of $1,000 and is not to be within a quarter of a mile of WDNR property. His next court appearance will be June 2.