Star Inn Motel Arson Defendant Faces More Charges

JOLIET, IL — A 41-year-old city resident who Joliet police say tried to burn down the Star Inn Motel on West Jefferson Street earlier this month is now facing additional felony charges of aggravated battery. According to his latest criminal complaint, Andrew "Andy" Hogrefe struck one of the Will County Sheriff's Office correctional employees in the head Dec. 10, "knowing (the man) to be a correctional institution employee performing his official duties."

Hogrefe has remained in the Will County Jail since Dec. 3.

Shortly after 4 a.m. on Dec. 3, Joliet fire engines rushed to the Star Inn Motel in the 2200 block of West Jefferson Street after one of the motel rooms caught fire.

Firefighters from Joliet Fire Station 6 saw smoke and orange flames within the empty room and got the fire extinguished in about five minutes, Fire Chief Greg Blaskey told Joliet Patch.

"Hogrefe advised an employee that he had just started a fire in the room that was registered to him. He then fled the scene on foot," Joliet police announced at the time of Hogrefe's arrest.

A Will County judge set Hogrefe's bail at $100,000 in connection with his arson charge, but since the aggravated battery charges were filed, Hogrefe's bail has been increased to $130,000.

That means he needs to come up with $13,000 in order to regain his freedom while his two different criminal cases are awaiting trial at the new Will County Courthouse.

Prior to his arrest, Hogrefe lived in the 1600 block of East Washington Street, jail logs show.

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