HAYWARD, Wis. – Attorney General Josh Kaul announced that on November 25, 2019, Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) prosecutors obtained long prison sentences for a Sawyer County man convicted of a string of arsons.

“The defendant in this case was convicted of 15 counts related to multiple arsons on the Lac Courte Oreilles Reservation. The lengthy sentence he received reflects how serious his offenses were,” said Attorney General Kaul. “Thanks to the investigators and prosecution team whose work resulted in a conviction on every count charged.”

Christopher A. Grover, age 45, was sentenced for arson at six fire scenes discovered on the Lac Courte Oreilles Reservation in Sawyer County. Grover has received the recommended full 25 years initial confinement and 21 ½ years extended supervision followed by 20 years probation.

The trial was presided over by Judge John M. Yackel. Principle prosecutor in the case was Assistant Attorney General Richard J. Dufour of the DOJ Criminal Litigation Unit.

Grover was convicted by a Sawyer County jury in September 2019. The conviction and sentencing was obtained through the work of the Sawyer County Sheriff’s Office, the Sawyer County Victim Witness Office, Lac Courte Oreilles Police Department, and the DOJ Division of Criminal Investigation State Fire Marshal’s Office.

The criminal complaint is attached.