Residential Arson Leads To 10-Year Prison Term For Aurora Man

AURORA, IL — An Aurora man guilty of residential arson was sentenced to a decade in prison, officials said Friday.

Victor Alvarez, 55, agreed to a 10-year sentence in exchange for a guilty plea to the felony offense of residential arson.

The charge stems from March 9, 2023, when the man entered an Aurora residence where he previously lived, threatened the people present and started a fire, causing damage, officials said.

He later admitted he started the fire because he was upset with his roommates, according to the state's attorney's office.

Alvarez was also tried in a second case for the felony charges of unlawful possession of a stolen motor vehicle and aggravated battery. In this case, he exchanged a guilty plea for a four-year prison term.

The battery happened six days after the residential arson. On March 15, 2023, Alvarez struck a woman multiple times on a public sidewalk. When a man intervened on her behalf, Alvarez stole his car and fled the scene, officials said.

The Aurora man's four-year term will run concurrent to the 10-year sentence. He is eligible for day-for-day sentencing and receives credit for the 457 days served in the Kane County jail.

Alvarez is required to register for 10 years in accordance with the Arson Registration Act.

"This sentence holds the Defendant accountable for his dangerous and harmful actions," Assistant State's Attorney Matthew Rodgers said in a statement. "My thanks to the Aurora Police and Fire Departments for their work on these cases."