A Woodstock man allegedly drove his car to a remote area in Woodstock before intentionally setting it on fire and reporting it stolen in a scheme to defraud his insurance company.
Giovanni Cervantes-Brito, 22, of Woodstock, was charged with two counts of arson and one count of false report of an offense.
A criminal complaint filed in McHenry County Circuit Court said Cervantes-Brito called NERCOM 911 Dispatch around 8 p.m. on February 19.
Cervantes-Brito reported that his 2018 Volkswagen GTI had been stolen from the 200 block of Joseph Street in Woodstock.
The Woodstock Police Department responded to the report and began investigating.
Investigators learned Cervantes-Brito had driven the Volkswagen to a remote area near Sunnyside Road and Route 176 in Woodstock, the complaint said.
Cervantes-Brito set the vehicle on fire and damaged it beyond repair, the complaint said.
The complaint said Cervantes-Brito set the car on fire with the intention of defrauding his insurance company, American Family Insurance.
Charges were filed against Cervantes-Brito on Friday and an arrest warrant was issued.
The warrant was served the same day and Cervantes-Brito was released from the McHenry County Jail on Saturday.
The McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain Cervantes-Brito in jail pending trial.
McHenry County Judge Jeffrey Altman denied the petition and released Cervantes-Brito with pre-trial conditions.
Cervantes-Brito is scheduled to appear in court again on January 9 for a status of preliminary hearing.