Arsonist gets 30 years for setting fire to girlfriend’s apartment

November 1

Adrian Blalock, 39.

JOLIET – Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow announces that a Lockport man was sentenced to 30 years in prison for a starting a fire in his girlfriend’s Joliet apartment unit in 2011.

Circuit Judge Daniel Rozak on Thursday handed down the maximum sentence for residential arson to Adrian Blalock, 39, of 413 E. 9th Street, Lockport. A jury deliberated for 28 minutes before finding Blalock guilty at the conclusion of a trial in June.

After arguing with his girlfriend, Blalock returned to her apartment in the 1100 block of North Broadway in Joliet on May 12, 2011. He entered the unit while no one was home and lit her young daughter’s bedroom on fire.

No one was injured, but the subsequent blaze caused in excess of $100,000 in damage to the four-unit apartment building.

Blalock had been driving with his own young daughter before setting the fire. He left his daughter sitting alone in the car, which he parked near the apartment building before he set the blaze, according to trial testimony.

Blalock has a long criminal record that includes convictions for two prior arsons.

“It is truly fortunate that no one was injured or killed when Adrian Blalock acted with callous disregard for the safety and well-being of the residents of that building,” said State’s Attorney Glasgow. “This arsonist will now spend many years contemplating the recklessness of his crime in a cold prison cell.”

The State’s Attorney credited Prosecutors Adam Capelli and Anna Rossi with securing this conviction and lengthy prison sentence.