CHICAGO – A 36-year-old Joliet man has pleaded guilty to setting fire to the home of an African-American family that moved onto the street of his residence.

In a plea deal, Brian James Moudry admitted he splashed gasoline on the home in the early morning of June 17, 2007 and ignited it. Eight children and an adult were inside at the time but were able to escape the blaze.

Moudry pleaded guilty Friday in federal court in Chicago to using fire to interfere with housing rights on the basis of race. He's expected to be sentenced in April to a maximum 10 years in prison.