A man set on fire by his girlfriend last spring in Antioch called a 12-year prison sentence approved Tuesday “a joke in my book.”
Deborah Roberts, 35, of Antioch, caused the permanent disfigurement of 43-year-old Chad Malanowski on May 17, 2015, when she poured gasoline on him and set him on fire, according to authorities. On Tuesday, Roberts pleaded guilty to aggravated battery.
During the hearing, Malanowski said the “12 years is really a joke in my book.”
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“If I didn’t put myself out with a garden hose, this would be a murder trial,” Malanowski said.
State’s Attorney’s Office spokeswoman Cynthia Vargas said several factors went into the negotiated plea, including information the state received from defense attorneys Tuesday morning. She would not elaborate on the specifics of the information.
Vargas said the victim was consulted during negotiations. She noted he has a criminal record, and both the state and defense had to weigh the risks of going to trial. With those considerations, the state decided the plea deal “was in the interest of justice,” she said.
Judge George Strickland said he approved the plea deal and related sentence based on accounts of the incident and mitigating factors.
Roberts will be required to serve at least 85 percent of the 12 years, and received credit for 275 days served in Lake County Jail. After prison, she will face three years of mandatory supervised release, formerly known as parole, officials said.
“I can do that,” Roberts said of the sentence.
After the plea deal was officially presented Tuesday morning, Roberts asked judge Strickland a series of questions that led him to ask her whether she fully understood the proceedings and details of the agreement.
Although Roberts said she did, Strickland continued the hearing until the afternoon to ensure all of her questions were answered and she wanted to proceed with the sentencing.
When the hearing reconvened, Roberts told the judge she understood the proceedings and wished to proceed.
In exchange for the guilty plea, the state dropped charges of attempted murder and domestic battery against Roberts, who could have faced up to 45 years in prison if convicted of all the charges at trial.
Assistant State’s Attorney Danielle Pascucci said the couple had an argument at Malanowski’s house when Roberts “poured gasoline on the victim and flicked a lighter, which then ignited the gasoline and Mr. Malanowski’s body on fire.”
According to Malanowski and police reports, Roberts also pushed him down porch stairs at the rural Antioch residence before pouring the gasoline on him.
Pascucci said Malanowski faced life-threatening injuries, required several skin grafts, was placed in a coma and almost lost his leg several times after receiving second- and third-degree burns “throughout his body.”
According to the Lake County sheriff’s office, Malanowski was able to put out the fire with a garden hose while Roberts continued to pour gasoline on him.
He was taken to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville with burns to 45 percent of his body, police said. He was later flown to the burn unit at Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital in Milwaukee, where he was initially in critical condition.
Malanowski also told the court Tuesday that he used to work construction but now is supposed to stay out of sunlight and is in danger of losing his house.
After the hearing, Malanowski said his medical bills have topped $1 million.
Roberts did not make a statement at the sentencing hearing.
Strickland set an April 19 restitution hearing on potential financial damages related to Malanowski’s injuries. Roberts will be transported from prison back to Lake County for that hearing, officials said.
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