Police: Man ignited sleeping man's pants

GODFREY, Ill., Sept. 4 (UPI) -- A Godfrey, Ill., man has been arrested after he allegedly lit a sleeping man's pants on fire, causing second and third degree burns, authorities said.

Madison County Sheriff's Department Capt. Brad Wells said Joseph Hornsey, 21, was arrested and charged with aggravated battery after he allegedly used a cigarette lighter to ignite frayed strings on the 20-year-old victim's pants, The Belleville (Ill.) News-Democrat reported Thursday. Wells was being held in lieu of $20,000 bail.

The victim, whose name was not released, had been drinking alcohol and was camping out in Hornsey's backyard at the time of the incident, Wells said.

"The victim was able to put the fire out on his pants and fell back asleep," Wells said.

He said the victim awoke Sunday morning to find he had suffered burns from his blazing trousers and was taken to a St. Louis hospital for treatment.