Man accused of arson set for preliminary hearing

A Bayfield County man authorities accuse of arson is set for his preliminary hearing after having his initial appearance rescheduled several times.

Skylar Basina, 32, had his first court appearance in June, but didn’t have an attorney to represent him. The Bayfield man had trouble finding an attorney, and his initial appearance was rescheduled multiple times.

Basina is accused of being an accomplice in a fire at a bear camp located at 33905 on Highway 13 in Russell in May 12. Noah P. Schmitz, Bayfield, has also been charged.

Basina is charged with three counts of arson to a building as a party to a crime and one count of criminal damage to property as a party to a crime. He faces a maximum of nine months for the criminal damage to property charge and a maximum of 40 years for each arson charge.

According to the criminal complaint, Schmitz told investigators May 12 was a “day of drinking” and Basina becomes hateful when he drinks. Schmitz and Basina agreed they would set the bear camp on fire because “some people believe the bear dogs are being used as tools and mistreated,” Schmitz told law enforcement.

Authorities said Schmitz and Basina set ablaze a cabin, a metal storage building and a shed. The two reportedly had talked about burning down the camp before, but never followed through.

Schmitz told law enforcement the arson was not planned. He said Basina used a pocket lighter to start the fire. The two made multiple trips back to the camp after starting the fire because “Basina had to keep seeing how it was burning and after that had to let the dogs go,” the complaint stated.

Basina’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for Aug. 15. At the hearing, the State must show probable cause that Basina committed a felony. Schmitz has waived his right to a preliminary hearing and has a status conference scheduled for the same day.