Prison ordered for man who lit woman on fire, hid from police in hole

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FARMINGTON — A Utah man who lit a woman on fire and then hid in a hole will serve up to 15 years in jail, a 2nd District court judge ruled Wednesday.

Marc Allen Davis, 50, pleaded guilty in September to aggravated assault, a second-degree felony, and no contest to possession with intent to distribute, a second-degree felony.

Judge David Hamilton noted that court records incorrectly state that Davis pleaded guilty to attempted aggravated assault, rather than aggravated assault. Four other charges were dropped in exchange for Davis' pleas, including possession of a dangerous weapon and possession or use of a controlled substance.

Hamilton sentenced Davis to one to 15 years at the Utah State Prison on the aggravated assault charge; and to zero to 15 years on the controlled substance charge. He ordered that the terms run concurrently and granted 387 days for time served.

He also suspended two $10,000 fines and ordered Davis to pay $1,000 to the Utah Office for Victims of Crime and $1,204 to the victim. A restitution hearing will be held in six months to determine the victim's ongoing therapy expenses. Additionally, Hamilton ordered a continuous no-contact order for the victim's protection.

Davis did not speak at any point during the proceedings. When asked if he'd like to address the court, Davis did not respond.

The victim, however, said the effects of Allen's actions on her life have been "a roller coaster."

She now struggles with sleep disturbances, she said, adding that she's been going to therapy and will likely continue to for some time. She also said the protective order is important to her, as she and her family fear what might happen if Davis is released.

"I want to move on with my life," she said. "I really hope and pray that his actions don't go ignored on this, (that he's) held accountable for what he's done."

Hamilton also briefly addressed Davis, saying his actions were "bad beyond measure."

Davis' case began in September 2021, when Clinton police were called to the area of 930 West and 2300 North on a report of a woman who had been burned by a road flare. When officers found the woman, she told them Davis "poured gasoline on her and lit it on fire with a road flare," which caused "severe scars," according to court documents.

The woman's shirt and some skin on her chest were burned, according to police.

Witnesses saw Davis run into a nearby yard after assaulting the woman. Davis "was found hiding inside of an approximately 10-foot deep hole, under a blanket," a police affidavit states, although at least one witness claimed the hole was much shallower than that. After multiple commands from police, Davis crawled out of the hole and was arrested.

Police said they found a red cooler in the hole Davis had been in and reported discovering drugs, drug paraphernalia and a knife inside the cooler.

In March 2021, Davis was charged in 2nd District Court with drug possession with intent to distribute, possession of a weapon by a restricted person and driving on a denied license. At the time of his arrest in that case, prosecutors noted in court documents that Davis had "multiple prior felony convictions in California, including possession of a weapon by restricted person and an assault by prisoner for which he was sentenced to prison," in addition to having a warrant for his arrest in California at the time.