Stoneham Man Pleads Guilty to Setting His Girlfriend on Fire

A Stoneham man pleaded guilty Thursday to charges that he set his girlfriend on fire in June 2011, according to a press statement by Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone.

Edouard Pierre-Charles, 28, pleaded guilty to charges of mayhem, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, armed assault with the intent to murder and resisting arrest, according to the statement.  

The Commonwealth recommended the defendant be sentenced to 10-12 years in state prison with 15 years of probation to run concurrent with the committed sentence and the following conditions: defendant must stay away and not contact the victim, her mother or her aunt, complete a certified batterers program, undergo a mental health evaluation and compete all follow up treatment, sign all releases so probation can monitor mental health treatment, not use drugs or alcohol, and random screens for drugs and alcohol, reads the statement.  

Middlesex Superior Court Judge Maureen Hogan sentenced Pierre-Charles to 8-10 years in state prison with 15 years of probation with all of the conditions recommended by the Commonwealth, according to the statement.

“This defendant has now admitted to engaging in a terribly troubling act of domestic violence by pouring a flammable substance over his then girlfriend and intentionally setting her on fire, leaving the victim seriously injured and permanently scarred both emotionally and physically,” District Attorney Leone said in the statement. “We commend the Marlborough Police Department for their work on this case and the victim for her courage throughout the legal process.”

According to authorities, at approximately 11:30 p.m. June 18, 2011, Marlborough police responded to Liberty Street for reports of a woman on fire, reads the statement.

"Upon arrival, officers observed the female victim in the street, wrapped in a blanket, screaming," reads the statement. "The victim was still burning in places on her body when police arrived. She was transported to UMass Worcester Hospitalwhere she was treated for her burns. The victim suffered second-and-third-degree burns to her back, forearms, legs and hands. The severity of the victim’s injuries has left her scarred."

Police immediately began an investigation into the incident, and it was determined that the defendant poured nail polish remover over the victim and set her on fire with a lighter inside the victim’s home, according to the statement.

At about midnight June 19, 2011, Marlborough police responded to a residence in Marlborough where they learned the Pierre-Charles was hiding, according to the statement. After a brief struggle, Pierre-Charles was arrested and taken into custody. the statement adds.

Pierre-Charles was arraigned in Marlborough District Court June 20, 2011, where Judge Sarah Singer ordered him held without bail, according to the statement. He was indicted by a Middlesex grand jury on Sept. 15, 2011 and arraigned on Sept. 27, 2011 where Middlesex Superior Court Clerk Magistrate Michael Sullivan ordered the defendant held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing, according to the statement.  

On Sept. 29, 2011, Judge Bruce Henry ordered the defendant held without bail following a dangerousness hearing, reads the statement.