Cherokee County man sentenced to 12 years in prison for threatening to set ex-girlfriend on fire

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — A Cherokee County man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for threatening to set his ex-girlfriend on fire, prosecutors said Friday.

On May 13, the ex-girlfriend of Jesse Logan Ellis, 27, of Canton, went to his home to retrieve her motorcycle helmet. When she tried to leave, Ellis would not let her go, according to the Blue Ridge Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office.

The woman eventually escaped by asking to use the bathroom, which was in another building on the property. She went to a nearby house occupied by two acquaintances and asked them to accompany her back to Ellis’ home to get her helmet, prosecutors said.

When they arrived, Ellis “expressed his love for the woman and told her she could not end the relationship.” He then “poured gasoline on himself, grabbed her in a bear hug, and held a lighter while threatening to set them both on fire,” prosecutors said.

“According to the victim and witnesses, he said words to the effect of, ‘If I can’t have her, no one can,’” according to the DA’s office.

The two acquaintances pulled the victim away, took the lighter and called 911.

“When deputies responded to this domestic dispute, they found the victim on the roadside, crying. She believed she was facing the possibility of being burned alive,” Assistant District Attorney Ashley Snow, who prosecuted the case, said in a statement. “Thanks to her quick thinking and the actions of those who helped her, she escaped a situation that could have ended in tragedy. The emotional scars of that experience remain with her today.”

On Oct. 23, Ellis was sentenced to 30 years, with the first 12 years to be served in prison and the remainder on probation, after he entered a non-negotiated guilty plea to charges of aggravated assault with intent to murder, aggravated assault and false imprisonment.

Conditions of his probation include having no contact of any kind with the victim, participation in a family violence intervention program, mental health and substance abuse evaluation and treatment, and forfeiture of all weapons.

“This case is a stark reminder that domestic violence is rooted in power and control,” District Attorney Susan K. Treadaway said in a statement. “When victims attempt to leave an abusive relationship, that loss of control can lead to dangerous escalation. Our office remains committed to holding offenders accountable as we stand with those affected by domestic violence.”

The DA’s office said that if you or someone you know is affected by domestic violence, support is available. Contact the Cherokee Family Violence Center at CFVC.org or call the 24/7 crisis hotline at 770-479-1703. In case of an emergency, call 911.