The man standing trial for the deadly fire that claimed two lives in Sturgeon Bay nearly two years ago was found guilty Tuesday afternoon of second-degree homicide.  Anthony Gonzalez faces a possible lifetime sentence in connection with the fire that destroyed the former Butch’s Bar and 20 apartments above the building in February of 2022.

The jury deliberated late Monday and resumed Tuesday morning before requesting the re-watching of a 45-minute video of Gonzalez being interviewed by investigators after the fire.  A verdict was reached after more deliberations were held in the early afternoon.

Gonzalez did not take the witness stand in his defense during the week-long trial, and his attorneys argued that the deaths from the fire were because of the inadequacies of the building's fire safety.

Gonzalez has been in jail on a $250,000 bond ever since he allegedly set the building on fire while refilling his lighter on his bed and tried lighting a cigarette in his apartment. 

The sentencing for Gonzalez will be on May 10th.