Menasha Man Sentenced for Fond du Lac Arson

RIPON, Wis (WRPN)- The 62-year-old Menasha man who intentionally set a fire in Fond du Lac has been sentenced to 20 years in prison and 10 years of extended supervision on arson and first-degree reckless injury charges.

Fond du Lac County Judge Anthony Nehls sentenced Mike Perez Tuesday. The fire that Perez set on September 23^rd of 2024 led to serious injuries for a 16-year-old girl who had to jump from a second story window to escape the fire. Five other charges were read into the record and dismissed.

All seven of the felony charges stemmed from a fire in the 200 block of Packer Street. The teen suffered spinal injuries and burns when she fell from a second story window trying to escape the fire. Two cats were also lost in the fire.

According to the criminal complaint Perez and his girlfriend who lived at the Packer Street address were having problems. He allegedly waited until she and her friend left before setting a gasoline can on fire which spread to the whole house. He didn’t know the teen was upstairs sleeping.