Wisconsin man sentenced to 7 years in prison for arson at Congressman Glenn Grothman’s office

20 year old Caiden Stachowicz received 7 years in prison for setting fire to a Wisconsin congressman's office over a TikTok ban dispute.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 10, 2026, 8:47 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from the Insurance Journal and the Associated Press.

Sentencing Following Targeted Arson Attempt

A Fond du Lac County judge has handed down a significant sentence in a case involving political property damage and arson. 20 year old Caiden Stachowicz was sentenced on Thursday to seven years in prison followed by seven years of extended supervision. The sentencing comes after Stachowicz pleaded no contest to a felony arson charge in November. During the proceedings, prosecutors dropped additional counts of burglary and property damage as part of a plea agreement. Judge Tricia Walker emphasized the severity of the act, which targeted a federal official's local headquarters.

Motive Linked to Federal TikTok Legislation

The investigation into the January 19, 2025, incident revealed a specific political motive. Stachowicz was apprehended by a police officer while standing near a fire outside Rep. Glenn Grothman’s office at approximately 1:00 a.m. According to criminal complaints, Stachowicz admitted to starting the fire because he was "angry" over Grothman’s support for a bill requiring TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, to divest its U.S. operations. He reportedly told officers that "peace was no longer an option" and that he viewed the federal government’s actions as a violation of his First Amendment rights.

Details of the Attack and Lack of Injuries

Stachowicz initially attempted to gain entry to the building to start the fire inside, but he was unable to break the office windows. He instead poured gasoline on an electrical box located behind the building and around the front facade before lighting it with a match. While the exterior of the building sustained damage, no one was inside at the time of the fire, and no injuries were reported. Defense attorney Danielle Gorsuch argued during sentencing that the act was the result of a mental health crisis and stressed that Stachowicz took precautions to ensure the building was unoccupied.