Man Charged with Lighting Friend's Pants on Fire

By Margaret Lyons in News on Sep 3, 2008 6:24PM

Well, here's a line you don't read every day: "A Metro East man is free on $20,000 bond after being accused of setting another man's pants on fire." The man was in fact not a liar--just a sleeper. Joseph Hornsey, 21, has been charged with aggravated battery.

A 20-year-old victim was treated for second- and third-degree burns on his leg Sunday morning after having been awakened in the middle of the night with his pants on fire. The victim, whose name was not released, had been drinking alcohol and camping out in Hornsey's backyard, according to [Madison County Sheriff's Department Capt. Brad Wells].

Hornsey had allegedly used a cigarette lighter to ignite the frayed strings of the victim's pants.

"The victim was able to put the fire out on his pants and fell back asleep," Wells said.

The victim later woke up with blisters on his leg.

The victim was treated at a hospital and released, and Hornsey is out on bail. [Belleville News-Democrat,AP]