Vernon Hills woman pleads guilty to arson
A Vernon Hills woman accused of setting a series of garbage can fires over three months has pleaded guilty to arson in Lake County court.
Stephanie M. Wollar, 28, was sentenced to 36 months of intensive probation and 30 months of periodic imprisonment for setting the fires at Deerpath, Augusta and Kelli Garvanian parks in Vernon Hills between October 2014 and Jan. 1, 2015.
Assistant State's Attorney Stella Veytsel said Wollar received 314 days credit for time served in Lake County jail. In addition, 16 months of her sentence in periodic imprisonment will be delayed until the end of probation and dropped if she completes probation with no problems.
Wollar is also required to not have any drug or alcohol while on probation, Judge Victoria Rossetti said in court. Wollar is not allowed to have any contact with the Vernon Hills Park District or police department, is not allowed to be in Vernon Hills unless she is just driving through town, must submit to random drug and alcohol tests, and she is not allowed to be in possession of anything that can be used to start a fire,
As part of the plea deal, Wollar must register as an arsonist with the state of Illinois for the next 10 years, and she is not allowed to be in possession of any weapons, and must conform to any mental health requirements as prescribed by a doctor, Rossetti said.
"Were it not for (intensive probation), you would be going to the department of corrections," Rossetti told Wollar in court. "So, if there's any violations, the next step is the department of corrections."
Wollar was charged Nov. 15 with setting fire to a bag of yard waste in the 300 block of Albany Lane near Deerpath subdivision, authorities said.
During police questioning, she admitted to setting garbage can fires at the three parks to "relieve stress," authorities said.
After posting bail, Wollar was arrested Jan. 1, and charged with starting a garbage can fire at Augusta Park. She was returned to Lake County jail and ordered held on $500,000 bail.
Had she been found guilty at trial, Wollar could have been sentenced to three to seven years in prison for the November case, and another three to seven years for the January fire.
Total damage estimates were about $6,000 for the Vernon Hills fires, authorities said. No injuries were reported in any of the fires.
Prosecutors agreed to drop the remaining charges and other Illinois cases against Wollar as part of the plea agreement Tuesday.
After her periodic imprisonment is completed, Wollar is ordered to return to New Jersey, if needed, for sentencing on similar charges. Authorities said Wollar pleaded guilty to arson charges for throwing several beer bottles filled with gasoline into a forested area in August 2013. She left New Jersey before being sentenced.