30-year-old Jesse Humphrey has been sentenced after being convicted in October by a Macomb County jury. He was found guilty of two counts of Second-Degree Arson and two counts of First-Degree Animal Torture/Killing for setting his then-girlfriend’s Warren home on fire in September 2024. The blaze destroyed the residence and killed her pets. She was not home at the time, but prosecutors say Humphrey knowingly left her cats trapped inside as the fire spread.
On Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, Macomb County Circuit Court Judge Joseph Toia issued the sentence. Prosecutors pushed the court to exceed the probation department’s recommendation of 60 to 240 months. Judge Toia sentenced Humphrey to a minimum of 6 years and 3 months up to 20 years in the Michigan Department of Corrections, with credit for 438 days served.
The court also prohibited Humphrey from having any contact with the victim or her family. He may not reach out in person, through social media, or through anyone acting on his behalf. He must stay at least 500 feet from her home, workplace, or school. Restitution was set at $15,000 as a condition of parole.
“Today’s sentence sends a clear message,” said Macomb County Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido.
“This defendant’s deliberate act of setting the fire and killing two innocent animals was both cruel and deeply destabilizing to the victim and the community. Arson is a violent crime, and the intentional harming of pets is an act of profound cruelty. We are grateful the court recognized the seriousness of his actions, and we hope this outcome provides a measure of justice and safety for the victim moving forward.”
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