Man convicted of fatal 2012 arson sentenced

CHICAGO (AP) - A 40-year prison sentence has been handed a man who set fire to his ex-girlfriend's Chicago apartment, resulting in the death of a neighbor.

Juan Adame of Cicero was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Judge Harry Leinenweber. Prosecutors asserted Adame used gasoline to start the blaze early on Jan. 14, 2012. Sixty-year-old James Maca died from carbon monoxide intoxication and smoke inhalation. The girlfriend, Blanca Ortiz, was not at home at the time the fire was set.

During a hearing, defense attorney Beau Brindley argued the 40-year-old Adame didn't go to Blanca Ortiz's apartment with the intent of killing anyone. However, Leinenweber noted it was unlikely Adame wouldn't have known people would be asleep when he set the pre-dawn fire.

In imposing the sentence, Leinenweber noted Adame has a long history of mistreating women.