DULUTH — A Duluth man who allegedly tried to kill his brother in a house fire last year has been placed on probation.

Brett Anthony Budreau, 22, was sentenced last week after pleading guilty in March to attempted first-degree arson.

Authorities said Budreau doused the porch of his brother’s Lincoln Park duplex in gasoline, but was unsuccessful in his attempts to set the building ablaze. He had reportedly expressed "homicidal tendencies" in the past and has been seen for mental health issues.

The sentence imposed by Judge Shawn Pearson follows a plea agreement with the St. Louis County Attorney’s Office, which agreed to dismiss a count of attempted premeditated first-degree murder.

Budreau was granted a stay of adjudication, which will allow the arson charge to remain off his record if he successfully complies with two years of supervision.

The brother called 911 shortly after 1 a.m. May 6, 2024, reporting that Budreau came over and was screaming at him before pouring gas on the only entrance and exit to his residence.

He said he went to grab his phone to call police. When he came back, he noticed flames coming from his parked car.

Officers responded to the duplex, 2217 W. Third St., and found the rear porch and door soaked. A gas can was still sitting on the porch, and a window on the residence was broken.

Meanwhile, the car also had a broken window and windshield, a dented hood and was covered in scratches. The brother said he was able to put out the fire before authorities arrived.

Staff at Essentia Health called 911 shortly after 4 a.m. to report that Budreau, wearing gas-soaked clothes, had checked himself in at the emergency room, indicating he had tried to kill his brother.

A doctor reported that Budreau was a frequent visitor to the hospital and had discussed homicidal thoughts in the past. But he reported it was the "first time he actually has a true concern that the defendant may be acting on what he talks about."

Budreau appeared to be showing "little regret," and the doctor feared he might seriously injure or kill someone if given the chance.

The defendant agreed to speak with police, admitting he brought the gas can in an attempt to kill his brother. He said he knew it was the only exit to the residence and, if the victim did manage to escape through the flames, he said he would have fought him.

But Budreau said his lighter failed to ignite the gas, which made him angry. As a result, he then turned to breaking windows and destroying the car, including by setting a potted plant on fire and throwing it on the vehicle.

The defendant underwent multiple mental health examinations throughout the criminal case, but was deemed competent to proceed. He indicated in his plea petition that he was taking anxiety and mood-stabilizing medications.

Budreau has spent a full year at the St. Louis County Jail and remained there Thursday, with the judge delaying his release until housing is available.