Man sentenced to 53 years for setting wife, home on fire

A man who was found guilty of setting his wife and home in June 2013 was sentenced to 53 years in prison in court Wednesday.

Randolph County Prosecutor Mike FusselmanchargedHunt with first degree arson, assault, and armed criminal action.

Connie Hunt, the victim, watched as Judge Scott Hayes called Willard Hunt’s crime “reprehensible.” Judge Hayes denied Willard Hunt’s request for probation, sentencing him 20 years for arson, 23 years for first-degree domestic assault and ten years for armed criminal action.

Fusselman said he recommended a high sentence because of the physical and emotional scarring the fire put on Connie Hunt – scars he said will last the rest of her life.

“I just didn’t think that the court should do any less than make sure that her defendant would be facing the same prospects,” Fusselman said.

At the October trial in Carroll County, Connie Hunt said her husband woke her up the afternoon of June 17, 2013 and doused her in gasoline. After running into the bathroom and trying to wash the gasoline off, Connie Hunt said her husband waited for her outside, and lit her on fire when she walked out.

The fire then destroyed the two’s house on the corner of Randolph and Sedalia Streets in Higbee.

“He attempted repeatedly to kill her,” Fusselman said. “He destroyed everything she owned in that house. Basically, took away her life by his conduct, and I think all of that will be weighed out by whatever parole board is impaneled at the time when he comes up for consideration.”

Hunt must serve 85-percent of his sentence before he’s eligible for parole. That will make him 92 years old.

Public defender Edward Guinn asked Judge Hayes for a lighter sentence. He cited Hunt’s non-violent history, including a 2006 guilty plea to a DUI. Guinn also asked that Hunt receive alcohol and drug rehabilitation instead of the lengthy prison sentence.