Mt. Angel woman pleads guilty after setting husband on fire

A Mt. Angel woman charged with attempted murder after lighting her husband on fire in August, pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of second degree assault, at the Marion County Courthouse Tuesday.

Emotions ran high in the courtroom as Toddi Bork, 46, stood and sobbed before Judge Tracy Prall Tuesday morning as she pleaded guilty to the charge, for which she will spend at least 5 years 10 months in prison.

Both parties involved in the case convened prior to the trial, which was set to begin Tuesday morning, and agreed to drop the more serious charge of attempted murder.

Bork was arrested on Aug. 15 after dousing her husband, 43-year-old Timothy Bork, in gasoline and setting him on fire with a cigarette lighter in her front yard.

"I'm very sorry for what happened that day," Toddi said. "I never wanted to hurt him."

Timothy, who sat in the back of the courtroom with other family members and friends, declined to make a statement Tuesday morning.

According to Toddi's lawyer, Whitney Perez, Timothy was flown to Legacy Emanuel Medical Center in Portland with burns to his face and chest and spent three weeks in the hospital. Bills from the hospital stay totaled about $200,000 which Perez maintains that Toddi will not be able to pay.

Perez also spoke of factors surrounding the incident stating that alcohol played a large role in the violent act and that a psychiatrist had diagnosed Toddi as depressed with a borderline personality disorder.

Judge Prall spoke to Toddi about the crimes that took place in August, stating that while the intentionality of the charge had been dropped, the recklessness was still very relevant.

"Mr. Bork's scars are very visible and lasting," Prall said. "It's going to take a long time for him to forgive you and a lesser charge should not take away from the seriousness of the crime."

Toddi Bork must also serve three years of post-prison supervision. She wept as she walked out of the courtroom.

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