Guilty on all charges, 50-year prison term

The jury at Oconee General Sessions Court found Jacob Drotning guilty on all four charges, and the judge responded with a sentence totaling 50 years in prison.  Drotning is about 40 years old.  In all, the jury took two hours to decide the case.  Judge Scott Sprouse used the words “terrible” and “horrific” to describe what happened to the defendant’s now former wife in May 2014 at their home in the Utica Community.  Just before sentencing, defense lawyer Lee Cole said his client is an alcoholic and has no memory of what happened when gasoline was poured onto Katherine Cook and she was set on fire.  Cook survived, but the court was told she still faces additional medical procedures and treatment. The case may not be at an end.  The Drotning attorney says he will file an appeal–this after the judge rejected all defense motions for a new trial.