Bond reduced in Kimball asphalt plant bombing case

By RICHARD JENKINS

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Hurley — The bond for a Kimball, Wisconsin man accused of bombing an asphalt plant in 2015 was reduced in Iron County court Wednesday, and a date was set for the case to go to trial.

Judge Ann Knox-Bauer said there were two ways for Matthew Allen Gollubske to post bond. He will be released to await a five-day, July 20 jury trial if he can post $5,000 cash and a $100,000 signature bond, or a $25,000 property bond and a $50,000 signature bond.

“I think there is a justification for reducing the bond, the question is what would be a reasonable amount of bond in light of all these circumstances (regarding the nature of the charges and the likelihood Gollubske would attend future hearings) that I’ve outlined here,” said Knox-Bauer, who appeared via video from her Taylor County courtroom.

She also ordered Gollubske surrender his passport, if he had one, and imposed other bond conditions.

Gollubske, 39, is charged with two felony counts of being a party to the crime of using explosives to damage property in connection to several explosions between 4:15 and 6 a.m. on the morning of July 4, 2015 at Mathy Construction’s asphalt plant off U.S. 2 in the town of Kimball.

In making his case, defense attorney Joseph Hoffmann pointed out Gollubske has been behind bars for 167 days as of Wednesday.

“This is a significant crime, but I would note it is a property crime. As far as I’m aware there are no physical injuries to anyone and, of course, Mr. Gollubske has the presumption of innocence,” Hoffmann said. “Whoever did commit this crime appears to have committed it on a date when it wasn’t even likely anyone would be at the construction site.”

Hoffmann argued bond should be reduced for multiple reasons — including Gollubske’s mother needing help operating the family farm, the need for Gollubske to receive better treatment for medical issues, his lack of a criminal record and his financial status.

Hoffman asked the bail be set at $1,000 cash and a $20,000 signature bond.

“A thousand dollars versus $100,000, your honor — I know it’s a significant difference, but $1,000 is still significant to my client,” he said.

Iron County District Attorney Matt Tingstad argued that the defense’s position was the same as it was during the original bond hearing when a $250,000 cash bond was set and an Aug. 26 hearing when it was reduced to $100,000 cash and stressed the seriousness of the case.

“What Mr. Gollubske is facing … is probably one of the largest, if not the largest, single-day property crimes — crime of violence — in Iron County,” Tingstad said, arguing there was the potential for a lengthy sentence if Gollubske was convicted of the two felonies — each of which carry a potential maximum sentence of up to 40 years in prison or a fine of up to $100,000.

Tingstad also disputed the claim there was an issue with the quality of care Gollubske was receiving in the Iron County Jail, and argued none of the reasons offered for lowering the bond were enough to merit granting the defense’s request.

In response to a defense proposal for electronic monitoring or residence checks, Tingstad said Iron County doesn’t offer electronic monitoring and it would be too resource intensive to require other forms of monitoring.

Gollubske’s father, Robert “Barrel Bob” Gollubske, 82 — who was also charged with two felony counts of being a party to the crime of using explosives to damage property in connection to the 2015 bombing — was found not competent to stand trial on the charges in August.