Man faces prison for 2013 Elgin arson

A 47-year-old South Elgin man faces possible prison time after pleading guilty to setting fire at an Elgin engineering firm in spring 2013.

Mark A. Clough, of the 300 block of Spring Street, faces anywhere from probation to seven years in prison when sentenced May 13 by Kane County Judge Karen Simpson.

Clough was charged with setting fire April 28, 2013, at Advance Engineering Corp, 440 S. McLean Blvd.

Police said he admitted to using a lighter to ignite the wrapping on a section of pipe in the building.

Clough pleaded guilty Friday to felony arson, according to court records.

In a cold plea, a defendant admits guilty and leaves it up to a judge to decide the punishment instead of agreeing on a sentence beforehand with prosecutors.

Clough has been held at the Kane County jail on $30,000 bail since his arrest in April 2013.

Clough does not have any previous arrests in Kane County, records show.

An evaluation conducted on Clough concluded he was fit to stand trial.

Clough also is being sued for nearly $48,000 in damages by Advanced Engineering.

A message left with Steven Johnson, an attorney representing the firm, was not returned.