Stephen G. Harloff of Batavia pleaded guilty to second-degree arson last Wednesday in Genesee County Court.
Under a plea agreement, Harloff will serve 5 to 20 years in state prison. He could have faced a maximum of 25 years if convicted at trial.
``I've been waiting for this to happen,'' the victim, Jessica McLain, said. ``I just wanted him to admit that he did that.''
McLain had spurned Harloff's requests for a date. In retaliation, he went to her apartment in Le Roy, 23 miles southwest of Rochester, around 1 a.m. July 13, poured gasoline inside the building and set it on fire.
A neighbor's dog alerted a neighbor to the fire and he was able to awaken McLain and her children. They managed to escape unharmed.
Harloff was arrested later that morning and has been in custody ever since.
McLain said she was pleased with the plea agreement, but has had a hard time recovering from the ordeal.
``It's been terrible,'' she said. ``I can't sleep at night and my daughter has nightmares. They're scared to death.''
