Carpentersville pyromaniac gets eight years

James E. Henry Jr.'s fascination with fire became a psychological issue in 1994 when he was diagnosed as a compulsive fire-setter. At the time, he'd never ignited anything that hurt anyone physically.

But prosecutors Wednesday said a 2006 arson spree showed signs he was inching ever closer to moving from small trash fires in the night to a house fire that may take someone's life.

Henry was convicted of arson and criminal damage to property in November 2007 after a monthlong spree of arson fires in Carpentersville. Carpentersville police and fire were called 26 times to cases Henry was believed to be connected to.

On Wednesday, Henry received his punishment.

Henry took the chance to express his own fears about his potential of hurting someone.

"I'm afraid that my passion for fires may engulf me," said the 31-year-old Carpentersville man. "I am not a monster. I am a good man who has done some bad things. I am not asking for immunity. I am not asking for forgiveness. All I am asking for is help."

While the defense argued Henry's best chance for help would be probation and treatment in a program outside prison walls, prosecutor Betsy Bellario said it was more important to protect the public.

"The defendant chose to commit these crimes even though he knew they were crimes," she said. "Setting a series of fires will land you in the department of corrections for a long time. That is the message that the public needs to learn."

Judge Timothy Sheldon told Henry he hopes he finds help in sentencing him to eight years in prison.

The eight years takes into account a prior criminal history that includes convictions for arson and burglary.

Henry will also be required to pay nearly $14,000 in restitution for the property damage he caused in earning charges of five felony counts of arson and 21 misdemeanor counts of reckless damage to property. Henry set fire to three cars, parked increasingly closer to homes. In one instance, a car set on fire extended to a set of bushes next to a house. The resulting heat was so intense it cracked a window pane on the front of the home.