District of Minnesota

Contact: Thomas B. Heffelfinger, United States Attorney (612) 664-5600
External Relations Division (612) 664-5600
Clifford Wardlaw, Assistant United Stated Attorney (612) 664-5600

Man Sentenced for Starting Fires at Fast Food Restaurants

Minneapolis - A Northfield man who started fires at fast food restaurants where he once had been employed was sentenced today in United States District Court for arson.

Shane Patrick Brenny was sentenced to 105 months in prison and three years supervised release for the June 16, 2002 fire at the Northfield Burger King. Judge John Tunheim also ordered Brenny to pay over $2.5 million in restitution.

Brenny pled guilty in May 2003 to one count of arson. During his guilty plea hearing, Brenny also admitted to starting three additional arson fires at other Northfield fast food restaurants. Specifically, Brenny admitted to the September 5, 2000 arson fire at a Hardees Restaurant and to the August 13, 2001 and October 14, 2001 arson fires at a McDonalds Restaurant.

According to a criminal complaint filed earlier in the case, at approximately 10:23 p.m. on June 16, 2002, the Northfield Police Department and the Northfield Fire Department were dispatched to a reported fire at the Burger King. Upon arrival, police officers observed the rear interior of the restaurant on fire. Firefighters were able to extinguish the fire. An investigation by the Northfield Police Department and the Minnesota State Fire Marshal Division determined that the fire was intentionally set using a flammable liquid.

The case is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Clifford Wardlaw.

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