A Rib Lake firefighter accused to asking his friends to start fires so he could put them out has pleaded not guilty to 11 charges including four counts of arson.
According to online court records, Jason Schmudlach, 20, is in custody in Taylor County. He'll return to court March 27.
In all, there were arson four fires; three barns and one abandon home. The fires took place between August and November 2011.
According to the criminal complaint, Schmudlach called his fire chief on November 28 and said he had a confession to make. The chief agreed to meet him at the fire hall. Taylor County Law Enforcement accompanied the chief to the hall. Schmudlach was taken into custody.
Chris Zak, 19 of Medford; Tyler Yeager, 20, of Madison; and Cain Wojcik, 20, of Stetsonville; were also arrested and charged. If convicted on arson charges, they face a maximum sentence of 40-years behind bars on each charge.
Authorities say damage totals more than $250,000.
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