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| James Roberts (inset) poured alcohol over his wife and set her on fire in this Uptown parking lot. | IDOC; Google |
A man accused of setting his 60-year-old wife on fire in an Uptown grocery store parking lot four years ago has been found guilty on all counts in a bench trial overseen by Judge Nicholas Ford.
James Roberts, now 70-years-old, poured rubbing alcohol over his wife’s head and set her ablaze in the Jewel-Osco parking lot at 4355 North Sheridan on September 7, 2014.
His wife suffered life-threatening injuries with severe burns across both sides of her upper body, from waist-level to her face, authorities said
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| Roberts smiled for this mugshot the day after his wife was set ablaze. |
But Roberts was all smiles when he posed for his mugshot.
Judge Ford found Roberts guilty of nine felony counts including attempted murder on February 13. Monday, Roberts was sentenced.
Ford merged the nine charges into three for sentencing purposes. Roberts was ordered to serve at least 85% of an 18-year term for aggravated battery causing great bodily harm with a flammable substance. Two concurrent sentences were also handed down: seven years for aggravated domestic battery with at least 85% of the time to be served; and five years for aggravated battery-great bodily harm.
Roberts arrived in Stateville on Tuesday. His parole date has not been set.
