A resident of Maroa, Illinois, has been handed a 20-year prison sentence after admitting to a harrowing act of domestic violence in which he set his girlfriend ablaze last year.

Matthew Broadhacker, aged 37, appeared in court Thursday morning. Initially, he faced charges including attempted murder, aggravated battery causing serious bodily harm, and aggravated domestic battery, with a trial set for the following month.

The session on Thursday was intended as the final status hearing before the trial. However, a plea agreement was reached earlier in the week, leading to a restructured hearing where Broadhacker entered his guilty plea.