MONROE — A Green County man on probation related to a pair of hate crimes in 2024 may face prison time after he allegedly set a pair of small fires in the city, including inside the “pocket park” bathroom on the square downtown.
Damage was minimal, but police identified Caleb J. McIntosh, 22, as the suspect who started small fires at a business in the 1100 block of 17th Avenue; and inside the park bathrooms between April 9 and April 10.
Police tracked down McIntosh a short time later, and not far away, and he was subsequently charged with two counts of misdemeanor negligent handling of burning material.
McIntosh was previously convicted of two counts of criminal damage to property with a felony hate crime enhancer — and as a repeater — for stealing the LGBTQ+ pride flag outside a coffee shop at 15th Avenue, near 10th Street in November, 2024, court records indicate.
A short time later and a few blocks away, McIntosh was also suspected after a resident showed police doorbell-camera footage of another, similar flag being removed from her front porch, according to the criminal complaint.
Ultimately, the defendant’s sentence was withheld in Green County Circuit Court, and he was placed on probation for 2 years and 6 months.
But less than a year later, McIntosh allegedly set fire to a leaf pile outside the entrance to a building, which did minimal damage to a building’s façade, court documents and reports say. The following day, he allegedly started a fire inside a decorative clay pot inside the park’s bathrooms, where he had apparently spent the night.
Burn damage to that facility also was minimal — an estimated $600.
“(A park official) believed that Caleb Mclntosh had lit a fire in the clay pot on the family bathroom floor attempting to stay warm and this fire caused the damage inside the family bathroom,” said the complaint.
As for the hate crime, officials allege in court documents that McIntosh’s views weren’t isolated to other citizens in Monroe.
“McIntosh’s Facebook site was reviewed, and several videos describing ‘Abomination’ were discovered, including pamphlets regarding an LGBTQ+ PRISM Program,” said an investigator, writing in a Wisconsin Dept. of Corrections packet advocated for revoking his offender status. “He begins burning the pamphlets in the video and says, ‘Go back to hell demons.’
The DOC report also strongly recommended incarceration for the young defendant: “Mr. McIntosh poses a risk to the community. Supervision has not deterred him. His choices to start a fire in a public bathroom, start leaves on fire near a business, and causing damage to a building threatens the safety of the public.”
In 2022, court records indicate, he was convicted of four counts of criminal damage to property due to a no contest plea. He granted a two-year withheld sentence — with numerous conditions — including absolute sobriety.
According to court records, McIntosh was convicted in 2021 of criminal damage to property and was sentenced to two years’ probation. Court records indicate that his probation was revoked on January 19, 2023, and that he was sentenced to 9 months in jail, with Huber privileges.
McIntosh remains in Green County jail without bond. No bond hearing has been scheduled, according to court records, which describe him as homeless. Previously, he listed a rural Wisconsin address.
“Generally speaking, a Defendant awaiting sentencing after revocation of probation is held without release from custody,” said District Attorney Craig Nolen, via email. “There are exceptions to the general rule, but most commonly they are held pursuant to an Order from the Department of Corrections until such time that sentence is imposed.”
The hearing on revocation for McIntosh is scheduled for 11 a.m., June 28, before Circuit Judge Jane Bucher. Sentencing also is scheduled for that time in the fire-starting cases.