The person implicated in the Boulder Junction structure fire that destroyed Gooch's A One tavern has been released on a $2,500 signature bond after entering a not guilty plea to two traffic counts with hearings set for Aug 26 and Sept 30.
Connor Cavanaugh, 20 of Orland Park, IL has been charged with reckless driving and operating while intoxicated 1st offense.
The information from the Vilas County Sheriff's department indicated they received a 911 call at 1:37 am on Aug 11 indicating a vehicle struck a power pole at the tavern and was fully engulfed with the fire spreading to the structure which was destroyed even with 20 area fire departments responding.
The criminal complaint alleges Cavanaugh and friends returned to Gooch's after it closed and were spinning the vehicle in the parking lot when it hit a power pole causing the vehicle to catch fire which spread to the building.
The alleged driver, Cavanaugh, was taken into custody when alcohol was believed to have been a factor in the crash, according to the Sheriff's department. Defense attorney Steve Lucarelli has filed a request for a six person jury trial with the court
