A judge sentenced a Vista man to 17 years in prison for spraying gasoline on his ex-wife while flicking a lighter and telling her he was going to kill her.

Danny Vinci, 44, poured the gasoline on his ex-wife, Cheryl Denise Kopp, in front of an Oceanside children’s dance studio, according to an article by our media partner, the North County Times.

On Wednesday, a Vista Superior Court jury charged Vinci with assault with a caustic chemical, criminal threats, domestic violence, failure to appear in court on a felony, possession of methamphetamine and resisting arrest.

Four women he dated testified that he abused them. Vinci has a criminal record stretching back 25 years.

His attorney argued that he purposely didn’t ignite his ex-wife, and had no intention of killing her.

Kopp told the NCT that she wasn't sure if she'd feel safer when her husband is released in 17 years, but she hopes he gets help while he's behind bars.

"I am worried in the back of my mind" about when he gets out, she said. "But it's not something I'm going to dwell on for the next 17 years."

Read the full story on the North County Times’ website.

