Man convicted of Arson, First-Degree Animal Torture/Killing

Mount Clemens, MI - Macomb County Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido announced 30-year-old Jesse Humphrey was convicted by a jury on all charges related to him starting a fire at his girlfriend’s home in Warren in September 2024, destroying the home and killing her two cats. His girlfriend was not home at the time, but he knew that her cats were in the building when he set it on fire.

On Oct. 22, 2025, after a five-day jury trial conducted by Assistant Prosecuting Attorneys Maria Panchenko and Juliane Beslic, a jury convicted Humphrey on the following charges:

Two counts of Second-Degree Arson, each a 20-year felony

Two counts of Animals – Killing/Torturing – First Degree, each a 10-year felony 

Humphrey was remanded to custody to await his sentencing. The sentencing is set for Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. before Macomb County Circuit Court Judge Joseph Toia.

Humphrey was originally charged with two counts of Second-Degree Arson and one count of Killing Animals in the Third Degree, a four-year felony. Following his Preliminary Examination and subsequent legal filings, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Panchenko successfully moved to have the animal-killing charge amended to the enhanced offense of First-Degree Killing/Torturing of Animals and secured the addition of an extra count for the second cat.

“Arson is a despicable crime. Depriving a person of all of their possessions is incredibly cold-hearted, in addition to the horrific danger to neighbors and firefighters. Even worse is committing arson knowing that living animals, a person’s beloved pets are in the building. I am proud of my assistant prosecutors who achieved justice for the victim and the cats.” Macomb County Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido said. 

The Macomb County Prosecutor’s office represents the people. We are committed to achieving justice and following the laws of the State of Michigan. All that are accused of a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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