| Local News:
Sunday, January 13, 2002
Teens charged in
Aberdeen school fire
By The Associated
Press
ABERDEEN — Two boys have been charged — one with arson, both with
burglary — in a fire last weekend that destroyed the 93-year-old Weatherwax
Building at Aberdeen High School.
A 16-year-old from Aberdeen was charged with first-degree arson
and second-degree burglary. Now being held in lieu of $100,000 bail, he was
scheduled to be arraigned Thursday. Grays Harbor County Prosecutor Jason
Richards said the teen also will be subject to a hearing to determine
whether he will be tried as an adult or a juvenile.
An arson conviction in juvenile court could mean detention until age 21.
In adult court, a first-time offender would get 21 to 27 months in prison
under state sentencing guidelines.
A 17-year-old from Ocean Shores was charged with second-degree burglary.
His case will remain in juvenile court, Richards said. He was being held on
$50,000 bail and also was scheduled for arraignment Thursday.
The teens were arrested at their homes late Thursday and were being held
at the Grays Harbor Juvenile Detention Center.
Police said the boys had broken into the building and were in the
counseling center, where they set material on fire before leaving. A witness
has told police the intent of the fire was to burn materials on a desk in
the room, not level the building. Court papers say the 16-year-old
apparently was concerned about the impact of the materials on a custody
battle between his parents.
The affidavit for a search warrant at the boys' homes said both were
drunk during the Jan. 5 break-in. The fire — set about 11:30 p.m. — was
reported about 11:44 p.m.
The affidavit was obtained by The (Aberdeen) Daily World.
Contractors were working to make the site safe enough for investigators
to enter. Classes resumed Thursday for 1,100 students, using other buildings
on the campus and nearby churches.
The three-alarm fire destroyed the three-story building, which housed 22
classrooms, a library, computer labs and the counseling center. |