A Long Lake man has been sentenced to 5 years in prison for his role in a brazen arson attack on a Dakota County government building in Apple Valley, Minnesota.
Garrett Patrick Ziegler, 25, was sentenced to 60 months in prison for aiding and abetting arson after a guilty plea in U.S. District Court in St. Paul, Minnesota, on May 29, 2020. Ziegler was found to have driven himself and co-defendant Fornandous Cortez Henderson to the Dakota County Western Service Center (WSC) in the early morning hours of May 29, 2020, where they broke multiple windows and threw Molotov cocktails into the building.
The attack caused fire damage to the WSC, which houses state and local agencies, including Dakota County court facilities and a U.S. Passport center. Ziegler and Henderson were motivated by anger at law enforcement following the death of George Floyd.
Ziegler also admitted to purchasing items used to construct the Molotov cocktails, including mason jars, pushpins, isopropyl alcohol, and lighter fluid. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Apple Valley Police Department, and the Dakota County Sheriff’s Office.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander D. Chiquoine and Chelsea A. Walcker. Ziegler was sentenced to 60 months in prison, 3 years supervised release, and ordered to pay $205,872.53 in restitution.
Ziegler’s guilty plea and sentencing bring an end to a case that highlighted the dangers of vigilantism and the importance of community safety. The sentence also serves as a reminder of the consequences of committing violent acts against public property.
Defendant Information:
Garrett Patrick Ziegler, 25, Long Lake, Minnesota
Convicted:
Aiding and abetting arson, 1 count
Sentenced:
60 months in prison, 3 years supervised release, $205,872.53 in restitution
Case Details:
Crime Date: May 29, 2020
Sentencing Date: Not specified
City and State: Apple Valley, Minnesota
County: Dakota County
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Key Facts
- State: Minnesota
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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