Wisconsin Bar Owner Convicted of Arson Files New Appeal

A man imprisoned for setting fire to his Marquette, Wis., tavern has filed a new appeal.

Joseph Awe is serving a three-year term for setting fire to JJ’s Pub in Harrisville in 2006.

In his appeal motion, Awe says investigators misread clues and used faulty logic to wrongly conclude he set the fire. Awe argues his trial attorney should have called witnesses who would have supported his testimony that he was home in Friendship when the fire broke out.

The State Journal reports the motion also includes information from Florida fire investigator John Lentini who reviewed the case and concluded the fire likely started in the heavily-burned circuit box of the 130-year-old bar which had a history of electrical problems. Awe’s previous attempts to appeal his conviction have failed.