Cheating husband admits to torching in-laws’ house

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — An Indiana man admitted to pouring gasoline on his in-laws' house and attempting to set fire to it while five people were inside.

Tyler Williams, 26, of Frankfort, Ind., who reportedly told officers that he had been kicked out of the house after his wife caught him cheating on her, took a plea deal Wednesday that calls for a total sentence of 16 to 50 years. He told Judge Steven Meyer of Tippecanoe County Superior Court 2 that he made the decision to torch the Lafayette home while under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

“I’m not a violent person by any means,” he said, noting that he didn’t intend to harm anyone. His sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 24.

Witnesses told Lafayette police that Williams had been drinking late on June 11, 2014, at Biltmore Tap Room when he left in a taxi, purchased a can and fuel from a gas station and stopped by his in-laws’ home, according to a probable cause affidavit. When he returned to the bar 30 to 45 minutes later, he reportedly looked at the bartender and said, “burnt that b----’s house down,” the affidavit states.

City firefighters had been dispatched just after midnight June 12, 2014, to his in-laws' house where they found a gasoline odor and two sections of melted vinyl siding at the back of the house, according to court documents filed previously. His wife, her parents and three children were in the house at the time but were not harmed.

When Lafayette police caught up to Williams a while later, he was snorting cocaine off a table at the bar. As he was being escorted to Tippecanoe County Jail, Williams reportedly fought officers and was shocked with a stun gun, according to court documents.

Williams pleaded guilty Wednesday to two sets of charges. He faces 3½ to 10½ years for felony possession of cocaine as a habitual substance offender, and 16 to 50 years for arson as a habitual offender. Williams will serve both sentences simultaneously if the judge accepts the plea agreement.