720 ILCS 5/20-1 – Arson; Residential Arson; Place of Worship Arson
This law makes it a crime to purposely set fire to someone else’s property, a home, or a place of worship.
This Illinois law says it’s illegal to start a fire or explosion on purpose that damages someone else’s property, a person’s home, or a place used for worship. The punishment depends on what kind of property is damaged.
(a) A person commits arson if they knowingly use fire or an explosion to cause damage in either of these ways:
- They damage another person’s real or personal property worth $150 or more without permission.
- They burn property worth $150 or more to try to cheat an insurance company.
“Property of another” means any building or property that someone else has a right to, even if the person starting the fire also owns part of it.
(b) A person commits residential arson if, while committing arson, they knowingly damage any part of a home or building where someone lives.
(b-5) A person commits place of worship arson if, while committing arson, they knowingly damage any part of a place where people worship.
(c) Sentence: Arson is a Class 2 felony. Residential arson or place of worship arson is a Class 1 felony.
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