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Fond du Lac man sentenced in TikTok arson at Grothman Wisconsin office
A 20-year-old man was sentenced to 14 years for the arson of a congressman's office.
The fire was set in protest of a vote on a potential TikTok ban.
No one was injured in the fire, which caused damage to the building's exterior.
The district attorney condemned the act as political violence and hoped the sentence would serve as a deterrent.
FOND DU LAC – Caiden Stachowicz, 20, has been sentenced for a January 2025 arson of a congressman's office, Fond du Lac County District Attorney Eric Toney announced March 5.
Judge imposes 14-year sentence
Judge Tricia Walker sentenced Stachowicz to seven years of initial confinement and seven years extended supervision.
He was convicted in November after a fire at a strip mall that included U.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman's office on North Peters Avenue in the early morning of Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025.
No one was injured in the fire, which was started in an electrical box behind the building to protest a vote on a TikTok ban.
District attorney condemns political violence
"Political violence isn’t a Republican or Democrat issue, it’s an American issue," Toney said in a news release. "It must be taken seriously to protect our democratic republic and ensure that the best of America are willing to step up and serve their communities and our country."
He added that he hopes the sentence acts as a deterrent to others and lets the community know they will be protected.
Fire caused damage but no injuries
The fire occurred at about 1 a.m. Jan. 19, 2025, when the building was unoccupied. Damage included the exterior siding and an air conditioning unit.
The criminal complaint indicated Stachowicz set fire to the office because the congressman voted "Yes" to require a sale of the app TikTok, after which the app stopped working in the U.S. for several hours the night of the fire.
Sentence below state recommendation
The state recommended a sentence of 12 to 15 years of initial confinement and 15 years of extended supervision, and the maximum possible sentence was 25 years of initial confinement and 15 years of extended supervision, according to Toney.
The Fond du Lac Police Department investigated the case with assistance from the Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation. Toney prosecuted.