Woodstock Man Sentenced For Car Fire In Post Office Garage

WOODSTOCK, IL — A Woodstock man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison at the Illinois Department of Corrections for felony arson and his prior criminal history, McHenry County State's Attorney Patrick Kenneally announced in a release from the McHenry County State's Attorney's office. James Durkee, 55, was found guilty of arson after negotiating a plea before McHenry County Judge Michael Coppedge, according to the news release.

The state's attorney's office said on Nov. 18, 2019, Woodstock Police Department members started investigating a call reporting a car engulfed in flames inside an attached garage at the United States Post Office in Woodstock. Witnesses and surveillance footage led to the identification of Durkee, who was captured buying items used in the arson incident, according to the news release.

This case was prosecuted by Susanne Groebner of the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office, the news release said.