News
Area man pleads guilty to arson
Scott Wagar
06/26/2012
Travis (Wilke) Brudwick, 22, of Bottineau, pleaded guilty last week in an arson case against him for the fire which took place at Tommy Turtle Lanes and Restaurant in July of 2011.
Brudwick was transported from the state penitentiary in Bismarck last week to the Bottineau County Courthouse where he pleaded guilty for the crime of arson in front of Judge Michael G. Sturdevant, the Northeast Judicial District Judge in the state of North Dakota.
Sturdevant sentenced Brudwick to 10 years in jail with five years of his sentence suspended and time served. He will also have five years of supervised probation after his release from prison, along with a number of fines and fees in the case, which include:
- The defendant will pay $4,979 in restitution.
- The defendant will pay a criminal administration fee in the amount of $650
- The defendant will pay a defense/facility administration fee in the amount of $100
- The defendant will pay a victim-witness fee in the amount of $250.
During the plea and sentencing hearing, it was stated that in the early morning hours of July 20, Brudwick, along with two juveniles, broke into Tommy Turtle Lanes and Restaurant. After they left the bowling alley, the three individuals went to a residential home where Brudwick became concerned they were taped on the establishment’s security cameras.
With the concern of being on the security cameras tape, Brudwick went back to Tommy Turtle Lanes and set the building on fire in hopes of destroying all evidence against him and the two juveniles.
When the investigation started on the fire, Brudwick’s name came up in the case because he was seen in the area of Tommy Turtle Lanes shortly after the fire was started. It was also stated in the court hearing that Brudwick had made statements about the fire to a cellmate of his while serving time in jail in another case, in which the cellmate told authorities.
With the evidence against him, Brudwick was arrested for arson in January and made his initial appearance before the judge, was given his rights, and a schedule date for his next court appearance, which was set for April.
This past Tuesday, Brudwick pleaded guilty in the arson case, with another crime against him, a burglary at Lake Metigoshe’s Sawmill Corner Stop, being dismissed.
After sentencing Brudwick on Tuesday afternoon, Sturdevant reminded him that he was still young and had a lot of life to live. Sturdevant also stated that he hoped Brudwick had learned from his past crimes and that he would work in becoming a better and productive person.
According to Tom Kessler, owner of Tommy Turtle Lanes, his building saw a financial loss of over a half million dollars due to the fire.
Kessler stated that Brudwick and the two juveniles broke into the bowling alley through the front door on the south side. Once inside, they broke into his cash register and office and stole $400.
When Brudwick came back to start the fire, he started the fire inside Kessler’s office, which spread up into the office’s ceiling, then the attic, and quickly went through the front part of the building, and caused extensive heat, smoke and water damage throughout most of the building.
Presently, Kessler is in discussion with his insurance company. Until discussions are completed, no decision will be made about the future of Tommy Turtle Lanes and Restaurant.
Brudwick has returned to the state penitentiary and will immediately begin his sentence for this crime.