11 years in prison for Bloomington man convicted of sexual assault, attempted arson

Posted on January 23, 2022
William Carter, 23, of Bloomington. (Photo courtesy: McLean County Jail)

By Heart of Illinois ABC

BLOOMINGTON – A Bloomington man has been sentenced to 11 years in prison for raping his former girlfriend and later trying to set fire to her home.

William Carter, 23, was sentenced Friday by McLean County Judge Casey Costigan. A jury in September of last year found Carter guilty of criminal sexual assault, attempted aggravated arson, unlawful restraint, and two counts of domestic battery.

In September of 2020, prosecutors said the woman woke up to find Carter trying to choke her. Besides raping her, authorities said Carter threw her to the ground and punched her.

The woman managed to escape when Carter took a shower. She told police she smelled gasoline and found a partially-burned couch when she returned to the home on Madison Street several hours later.

Carter is appealing his conviction.

Heart of Illinois ABC can be reached at [email protected].

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