DETROIT, MI – In an unsettling case that has drawn outrage across Michigan, a local man has been sentenced to two decades in prison for a violent act he described as a internet “prank gone wrong,” after setting another man ablaze and sharing the ordeal live on social media.
Adrian Trimble, the victim, survived but sustained burns over significant portions of his body after he was lit on fire while sleeping in his own home. The attack, perpetrated by Joseph Green, was broadcast on Facebook Live, shocking viewers who witnessed the event in real time.
In court Wednesday, Trimble recounted the harrowing moments when he awoke engulfed in flames, describing the sensation as “an inferno” engulfing his back. Standing before the judge and those assembled in the courtroom, Trimble recalled the frantic struggle to brush away burning debris as the fire spread across his body.
Judge Nanci Grant, presiding over Oakland County Circuit Court, did not waver in her criticism of Green’s actions, calling the incident “a truly senseless act.” She sided with prosecutors’ plea for a substantial sentence, handing Green 20 years in prison after he entered a no contest plea to charges including assault with intent to cause great bodily harm and arson.
During the hearing, Green characterized his actions as a misguided joke, but the court was unmoved. As the judge announced the sentence, she made it clear that the gravity of the crime far outweighed any claims of playful intent.
According to testimony, Green ignited paper towels before hurling them at Trimble while he slept. There were also attempts to set fire at other parts of Trimble’s body, amplifying the severity of the injuries. Witness accounts stated that Green continued to set items on fire within the room, further endangering Trimble and everyone present.
Trimble was swiftly transported to a hospital after the incident, where he required three surgeries to treat his burns. His daughter, Ayana Trimble, told the court that her father, who suffers from epilepsy, experienced multiple seizures following the attack.
Shocking details emerged that Trimble was left in pain for almost half a day before emergency services were summoned. A fundraiser created by Ayana claims that onlookers not only recorded and laughed as the attack unfolded, but actively encouraged Green, with no one stepping in to intervene or help.
Prosecutors noted that the disturbing videos circulated online appeared to show Trimble’s repeated pleas ignored, while witnesses either filmed or incited the violence further.
Doctors have indicated that Trimble faces a lengthy recovery, both physically and emotionally. Family members say he still bears the scars and trauma from a purported prank that turned into a nightmarish ordeal. As Green begins his sentence, the case has raised questions about bystander responsibility and the dark side of viral internet culture.