A judge sentenced a second suspect to 13 years in prison for arson after the duo “firebombed” a house — which was the wrong target — near downtown Crystal Lake while a resident was inside late at night.
The Crystal Lake Fire Rescue Department and Crystal Lake Police Department responded around 1:45 a.m. on April 20 to the 100 block of North Main Street in Crystal Lake for a report of a structure fire.
A criminal complaint filed in McHenry County Circuit Court said a house was damaged by an arson fire.
Firefighters arrived and reported a two-story residence with a small smoldering fire.
The fire was mostly already extinguished by a good Samaritan who was passing by, prosecutors said.
Police investigated and identified the suspects who started the fire as Brittany L. Terrell, 32, of Garden Prairie, and Jesse J. Mendez, 37, of Garden Prairie, court records show.
Both were charged with aggravated arson, residential arson, arson causing damage to property, criminal damage to property by fire and criminal damage to property under $500.
The complaint said Terrell and Mendez threw an ignited bottle containing a flammable liquid and a t-shirt at the residence.
A glass window to the storm door of the home’s screened porch was damaged.
A 62-year-old resident was inside the house when the fire occurred, the complaint said.
Court documents said that Terrell and Mendez are husband and wife and that they drove to the home before attempting to set it on fire.
Terrell said she threw the “firebomb” for her husband while he was present, court documents said, adding that the woman did not know the person living there.
The woman reportedly said she prepared the firebomb using nail polish remover and used the device to try and “scare” someone because they did not follow through on a drug deal.
Court documents said Mendez sent a threatening text message prior to the incident that the targeted house would be damaged.
Prosecutors said that the intended target of the arson did not reside at the residence and the pair mistakenly burned the wrong home.
Arrest warrants were issued for the two and the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain them pending trial, arguing they pose a danger to the community, following their arrests.
McHenry County Judge Cynthia Lamb granted the petitions and said that Mendez knew the residence was occupied. “His intentions were clear, he did what he intended to do, and what he threatened to do.”
The judge also said during an initial court hearing that Terrell had reason to believe the home was “not even party to the drug transaction.”
“The defendant is a threat to the public and community at large. She attempted to start a home on fire knowing someone was in it, and no condition or combination of conditions can mitigate that threat,” Lamb said regarding Terrell.
Court records show Mendez entered into a negotiated plea deal with the state’s attorney’s office on October 2 and Terrell then entered into a negotiated plea on Tuesday.
Mendez pleaded guilty to one count of residential arson, a Class 1 felony, in exchange for his more serious charge being dismissed.
McHenry County Judge Mark Gerhardt approved the plea and sentenced Mendez to 14 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections pursuant to the agreement.
Terrell also pleaded guilty to one count of residential arson, a Class 1 felony, in exchange for her more serious charge being dismissed.
Gerhardt sentenced Terrell to 13 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections pursuant to the agreement.
“We are grateful for the quick, decisive action of a concerned citizen that managed to control the fire, preventing a more devastating outcome. We also commend the tenacious work of the Crystal Lake Police Department in both identifying and apprehending the perpetrator,” McHenry County State’s Attorney Randi L. Freese said following sentencing.