MONROE — An Illinois man on Monday was sentenced to six months in jail for setting a fire that destroyed a wooden bridge on Badger State Recreation Trail at Round Grove Road.

In Green County Circuit Court, Ronald L. Barr, 63, of Dakota, pleaded no contest — and guilty pleas were entered — to a count of felony arson and one count of criminal damage to property on Dec. 1. 

For the felony arson count, he was given four years’ probation on a suspended sentence. The jail term of 60 days was his sentence for misdemeanor criminal damage to property and can be served with Huber work privileges. 

The also defendant was given permission to go to Illinois for his job. A restitution hearing also was scheduled. 

The 2022 incident began Nov. 10 when Green County received a 911 call reporting a fire along the trail. Monroe Rural Fire Department — along with Juda Fire Department and Monticello Fire Department — responded, joined by deputies from the sheriff’s department. 

The bridge was demolished hours after the fire to remove a safety hazard to pedestrians and motorists. The older bridge structure was built for the railroad bed prior to being converted for trail use.  

Even prior to the fire, a car crash earlier that summer weakened the structure significantly, officials have said.