Wis. Man Gets 90 Days In Jail For $50 Million Fire

CARRIE ANTLFINGER

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Two brothers convicted of firing a military flare that sparked a meatpacking plant fire the day after Independence Day in suburban Milwaukee will celebrate the next three Fourth of Julys in jail to remind them of their crimes.

Kurtis J. Popp, 25, of Milwaukee, was sentenced Monday to 90 days in a local jail, which must be served for 30 days each July for the next three years. He also received three years probation and 500 hours of community service. Joshua J. Popp, 23, got the same sentence earlier this month.

As felons, the brothers are barred from owning firearms and Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Dennis Cimpl made a point during Joshua Popp's sentencing Oct. 8 to say the order included fireworks such as M-80 firecrackers and sparklers. But he didn't mention it during Kurtis Popp's sentencing Monday. A message left at Cimpl's office later Monday to clarify was not immediately returned.

During Joshua Popp's sentencing, Cimpl said he wanted him to serve the time in July because he committed the crime in celebration of the Fourth of July.

Kurtis Popp, who along with his brother pleaded guilty to second-degree recklessly endangering safety in a plea agreement, apologized Monday. He told Cimpl he was thankful no one was hurt and he promised he'd never be in criminal court again.