EDWARDS CO., Ill.—Remember this guy, Ernie McKenzie?
The one who told authorities he set fire to his mom’s home because he was “bored and was wanting attention”?
Same guy whose antics included setting fire to the sofa cushions, a rug, and other items in his mom’s house in Grayville, then running into and out of the house like a crazy person, prompting firefighters from Little Wabash Fire Protection District as well as other responding personnel to have to throw themselves on him in order to get him to stop running back into the burning residence…and whose fire was responsible for one firefighter, Zac Winebarger, attempting to ventilate the home by breaking out a window as trained, but cutting his arm so badly in the process that he ended up having to have microsurgery done on it…but couldn’t be taken to the hospital promptly from the scene, because the only existing ambulance in the area was busy toting crazy Ernie away for an evaluation…that guy?
Well, yesterday, in a bench trial in Edwards County, “that guy” was found guilty of all of the above.
The bench trial, held before Judge David Frankland, was a day-long event during which the only drawback a few noted was that McKenzie’s daughter, age 12, was called to testify on behalf of the state.
However, the resulting guilty on four counts came as no surprise. Now, it’s all over but for the sentencing, which is set for December 17. Be checking on that day, as we’ll try to bring you the results.