Wausau Man Appears in Marathon County Court for Charges Related to a Garage Fire

Wednesday, June 11th, 2025 -- 1:00 PM

(Mike Leischner, WSAU) A Wausau man facing numerous charges related to a fire at his garage appeared in Marathon County Court.

According to Mike Leischner with WSAU, David Oldenburg Jr. is said to have started a fire in his garage on South 14th Avenue back on February 10th. The flames quickly engulfed the building, leading Oldenburg to call for help shortly after midnight. Investigators say Oldenburg had previously been warned about starting fires in his garage, before this incident, in December 2024.

He initially told first responders he had stepped outside for a cigarette before the flames started, but later admitted he started a fire in a wood stove despite the previous warnings. Police also found methamphetamine in his possession as they were responding to the incident.

All charges carry repeat modifiers which could mean additional prison time if he’s convicted. Court records show Oldenburg is also facing retail theft charges. Those were filed last August.

During his arraignment on Tuesday, he entered a not guilty plea to the charges against him. He’s scheduled to be back in court on June 24th.

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