SNOHOMISH — A man accused of lighting his wife on fire during an argument last month has been charged with felony assault.
Prosecutors allege that the Snohomish man, 30, doused the woman with rubbing alcohol and then lit her on fire. The woman was badly burned on her chest, arms and hands.
She told Snohomish County sheriff’s detectives that her husband accused her of being unfaithful. She denied the allegations and the man threatened to burn her. He insisted that she was lying and poured the rubbing alcohol on her and used a cigarette lighter to ignite the liquid, Snohomish County deputy prosecutor Paul Stern wrote.
The woman delayed reporting the attack for a few days out of fear that her husband would hurt her again, or harm their children.
The couple’s children were home at the time of the incident.
Prosecutors allege that after the woman reported the assault to police the man sent her text messages, threatening to harm her and her parents and brother. One message read, “You’ll regret this,” according to court papers.
Police said that the man was carrying eight grams of methamphetamine when he was arrested.
He was being held on $100,000 bail.
Prosecutors charged the man with second-degree domestic violence assault.
Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463; hefley@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @dianahefley.
Who to call
If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, resources are available from Domestic Violence Services. The agency provides emergency shelter, legal advocacy and support groups. For more information, call the 24-hour crisis line at 425-252-2873.
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