Roger Evans (Jones County Sheriff’s Office).
A Georgia man has been sentenced to decades in prison after prosecutors said he covered a woman in gasoline and set her on fire when she confronted him about using her debit card without permission to purchase $100 worth of gas.
Roger Evans, 52, pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and received a sentence of 30 years in prison followed by 10 years of probation, according to a press release from the Jones County Sheriff’s Office.
The incident happened April 24 in Augusta, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by the Jones County News. Evans had asked the woman to drive him to a gas station so he could buy fuel for the generator powering his home.
The woman became angry after receiving a phone alert indicating that Evans had used her debit card to pay $100 for gas.
The two began arguing after returning home. According to the affidavit, Evans was holding the gas can when he poured gasoline over the woman and threatened to set her on fire while flicking a lighter.
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The woman then caught fire and began screaming. A witness heard her cries and rushed over to help. Evans used a blanket to extinguish the flames, but the woman suffered serious injuries.
Evans and the witness placed the woman in Evans’ vehicle and drove her to a hospital. Evans called 911 while they were on the way.
Authorities said the woman sustained “extensive injuries” and spent several months in the hospital undergoing treatment and beginning what they described as a long recovery.
“Most importantly, we hope this resolution brings some measure of peace and closure to the victim. We continue to wish her strength and healing as she moves forward in her recovery,” the sheriff’s office said.
The press release did not disclose the nature of Evans’ relationship with the woman.
