NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- A Brooklyn man was sentenced to 27 to 29 years in prison last week for repeatedly stalking and threatening a woman who broke off their relationship then setting her Queens apartment on fire, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced on Tuesday.
Steven Somerville, 52, of Bushwick Avenue, Brooklyn, was convicted by a jury in July of arson in the second degree, burglary in the second degree, reckless endangerment, criminal contempt in the first degree and stalking in the third and fourth degrees.
On Thursday, he was sentenced to 27 years to 29 years in prison.
According to officials, Somerville met the victim at their mutual place of employment and they began an intimate relationship October 2021.
Although married, Somerville became fixated on the woman and targeted her with unwanted attention.
He showed up at the victim’s residence uninvited if she didn’t answer his calls and insisted on driving her to work, even though she said she didn’t want to see him.
Somerville’s wife found out about the victim, she became concerned for the woman’s safety and encouraged her to contact the police, prosecutors said.
On December 4, 2021, when the victim attempted to end her relationship with Somerville, he threatened to kill her.
The victim fled her residence with her three children to a domestic violence shelter and was not home at the time of the blaze, fearing Somerville would act upon his threats.
Over a 24-hour period, Somerville called the victim more than 100 times.
At approximately 4:00 a.m. on December 7, 2021, Somerville entered the victim’s empty apartment in a six-story building in Forest Hills where he moved two mattresses from a bedroom into the living room, piled them with household items and clothing and set them on fire.
Somerville exited the apartment through a window leaving the front door locked. Surveillance footage shows him in the vicinity of the building at the time.
Before and after the fire, Somerville sent the victim threatening texts saying, "I want you to know that I’m really going to kill you," as well as "There is nowhere I won’t find you now. I’m gonna devote my whole life to finding you and killing you."
"Access to a domestic violence shelter may very well have saved this woman’s life," District Attorney Katz said. "I urge victims of domestic violence who need safety planning services, or help in securing an order of protection or shelter placement, to call our 24-hour DV Helpline at (718) 286-4410."