Barrington woman pleads guilty in flamethrower, cyberstalking incidents
A Barrington woman who used a flamethrower to torch her luxury SUV in an office center parking lot in November 2017, then falsely reported the car stolen, pleaded guilty to criminal damage to property Friday in Rolling Meadows.
Julie Gagne, 48, also pleaded guilty to cyberstalking in a separate 2018 case in which authorities say she sent thousands of unwanted phone calls, emails and text messages to a man.
In exchange, Gagne was sentenced to 30 months of probation and ordered to undergo a mental health evaluation.
She was ordered to pay $5,970 in restitution in the first case and is prohibited from contacting the victim in the second case, Assistant Cook County State's Attorney David Shin said.
Gagne ignited her car about 10:30 p.m. Nov. 10, 2017, in a parking lot on South Grove Avenue.
In the second case, which was reported last October, a man told Barrington police he had been receiving calls, emails and texts from Gagne beginning in 2016.
Gagne, who had no criminal background, has a supportive family and is well-respected in her community, defense attorney Amy Seamann said.
"She's anxious to put this behind her and move forward with her life," Seamann said.