Criminal Complaint - InTK-IC - 11-27-24 - 1 - Staton, Robert A

STATE OF WISCONSIN CIRCUIT COURT RACINE COUNTY
DA Case No.: 2024RA010703

STATE OF WISCONSIN Assigned DA/ADA: Brooke L Erickson
Plaintiff, Agency Case No.: 24-011622
Court Case No.: 2024CF
vs. ATN: 52003001405118
ROBERT A STATON
201 S Kane St
Burlington, WI 53105
CRIMINAL COMPLAINT
DOB: 12/17/1958
Sex/Race: M/W
Eye Color: Blue
Hair Color: White
Height: 5 ft 10 in
Weight: 150 lbs
Alias: Also Known As Robert Alan
Staton
Alias DOB: 01/17/1958Defendant.
For Official Use
Status: Prisoner on Wednesday, November 27, 2024 at 1:30 PM

Officer: Jodi M Borchardt # 103, of the Burlington Police Department
The defendant did:
Count 1: NEGLIGENT HANDLING OF BURNING MATERIAL
The above-named defendant on or about Friday, November 22, 2024, in the City of Burlington,
Racine County, Wisconsin, did handle burning materials in a highly negligent manner, contrary to sec.
941.10(1), 939.51(3)(a) Wis. Stats., a Class A Misdemeanor, and upon conviction may be fined not
more than Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000), or imprisoned not more than nine (9) months, or both.
Count 2: FELONY BAIL JUMPING
Racine County, Wisconsin, having been arrested for or charged with a felony and having been released
from custody under Chapter 969 Wis. Stats., did intentionally fail to comply with the terms of his bond,
contrary to sec. 946.49(1)(b), 939.50(3)(h) Wis. Stats., a Class H Felony, and upon conviction may be
fined not more than Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000), or imprisoned not more than six (6) years, or
both.
Count 3: FELONY BAIL JUMPING
Racine County, Wisconsin, having been arrested for or charged with a felony and having been released
from custody under Chapter 969 Wis. Stats., did intentionally fail to comply with the terms of his bond,
contrary to sec. 946.49(1)(b), 939.50(3)(h) Wis. Stats., a Class H Felony, and upon conviction may be
fined not more than Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000), or imprisoned not more than six (6) years, or
both.
11/27/2024
STATE OF WISCONSIN - VS - Robert A Staton
The official records and files of the Racine County District Attorney's Office, the Wisconsin
Department of Justice and/or Department of Transportation reflect that the defendant has the following
record of convictions:
04/23/2023 DUI Arvada CO AR23006345
The complainant, being first duly sworn on oath, on information and belief, alleges and states
that in the County of Racine, State of Wisconsin, the defendant did commit the above described
offense(s) and prays that said defendant be dealt with according to the laws of the State of Wisconsin.
The complainant states that he is an adult citizen and has reviewed the official law enforcement
reports prepared under the above mentioned complaint numbers by the above stated officer, whose
reports your complainant relies upon as truthful and accurate inasmuch as they were prepared during
the course of an official law enforcement investigation. The complainant relies upon the statements of
the mentioned witnesses inasmuch as they are citizens and their statements are based on personal
knowledge or eyewitness observations; the complainant relies upon the statements of the defendant, if
any, inasmuch as they are contrary to the defendant's penal interests and are, therefore, to be
believed.
The complainant thereby informs the court that the basis for the above charge(s) is as
follows:
On November 22, 2024 at approximately 3:20AM, Officer Wolke, of the City of Burlington Police
Department, was dispatched to 201 Kane Street, in the City of Burlington, County of Racine, State of
Wisconsin, for a report of the house actively on fire. It should be noted the house was in active
demolition and remodeling stature at the time of the fire.
Upon arrival, Officer Wolke observed the house to be engulfed in flames. When walking towards
the residence, Officer Wolke observed Robert Staton, hereinafter referred to as the defendant, in a
vehicle near the house. When asked what happened, the defendant said “I don’t know. Just fucking
arrest whoever is in there.” The defendant further stated he was unsure who was in the residence. The
defendant maintained that someone else was in the residence and was “trashing shit” though officers
found no one around the scene and the defendant could not name anyone.
The defendant gave multiple different statements to officers, and was extremely difficult
throughout law enforcement interactions with him. Ultimately, the defendant said at approximately
1:00AM that morning, he started fires in the four fire places in the home. Two fire places were on the
second floor, and two were on the first floor. The defendant said he started these fires with cardboard,
wood, and a lighter. He started the fires to “keep the workers warm” when workers came into the home
to work the next day. He said he lit the fires and then went to sleep on a chair in the home. He woke up
and saw smoke and ran out of the house, citing he also saw someone in the house.
Detectives also spoke with the home inspector, who wrote a home inspector report recently for
the home. The report indicates that all four of the fireplaces are coal burning, not wood burning. Two of
the fire places were “blocked off” per the inspector report, and would have had to have been breached
in order for a fire to be started in the respective fire places. The home inspector was hired by the
defendant, briefed the defendant after writing his report, and gave a copy of the report to the defendant,
which states the coal fire places are not suitable for wood fires due to the shallow depth of the firebox.
When the defendant was taken into custody, about 4 hours past the 911 call for the fire, his
preliminary breath test came back at a .07.
11/27/2024 2
STATE OF WISCONSIN - VS - Robert A Staton
Detectives learned of an incident on November 21, 2024, where RM, the Burlington Fire
Inspector and employee of the City of Burlington, was in the drive thru of KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken)
in a fully marked fire department vehicle. While RM was waiting for his food, the defendant approached
him and said “thank you for your service” and handed RM a $100 bill. RM took it and tried to hand it
back to the defendant, but the defendant threw it into the vehicle. RM was unsure what to do, so he
used the money to pay for the defendant’s $40 food order. After this, RM left. When he was at a stop
light nearby, RM rolled down his window and thanked the defendant. The defendant replied with “no
problem, if my house at 201 Kane Street ever catches fire, just let it burn!”
The defendant denies ever saying this.
The house was significantly damaged as a result. The entire second floor of the residence is
virtually gone, and the tower of the residence is in precarious and unstable position. As a result of the
significant fire damage to the building, no fire fighters could enter the residence, because of the
instability of the entire building due to smoke and fire damage. As of the writing of this complaint, no
person is allowed to enter the residence due to the instability. The fire took about 4 hours to contain
and put out, utilizing multiple police and fire agencies. The house is uninhabitable.
A forensic download of the defendant’s phone is pending, this is an active and ongoing
investigation.
Further, the defendant appeared in front of CC Rudebusch in Racine County Circuit Court case
number 24CF1120 on September 16, 2024. The defendant was released from custody with conditions
to commit no further law violations and to not use or possess alcohol. This bond was valid and in full
effect on November 22, 2024.
The defendant has had the following SCRAM violations since being on bond:
• 10/31 – 11/1: Confirmed obstruction, alcohol detected but not confirmed due to obstruction.
• 11/14: Confirmed obstruction, alcohol detected but not confirmed due to obstruction.
• 11/06 – 11/20: Multi-day, multi-peak consumption of alcohol
• 11/22: SCRAM violation/failure to report at RCAP
Subscribed and sworn to before me on 11/27/24 Electronically Signed By:

Electronically Signed By: Dirk C Jensen
Jacob Nelson Garman Complainant
Assistant District Attorney
State Bar #: 1119248
11/27/2024 3

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STATE OF WISCONSIN CIRCUIT COURT RACINE COUNTY

DA Case No.: 2024RA010703

Status: Prisoner on Wednesday, November 27, 2024 at 1:30 PM

The defendant did:

Count 1: NEGLIGENT HANDLING OF BURNING MATERIAL

Count 2: FELONY BAIL JUMPING

Count 3: FELONY BAIL JUMPING

04/23/2023 DUI Arvada CO AR23006345

The defendant denies ever saying this.

Subscribed and sworn to before me on 11/27/24 Electronically Signed By:

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