Juvenile pleads guilty to arson

Randolph County State's Attorney Jeremy Walker confirmed Wednesday that the 16-year-old juvenile charged in connection with the Oct. 18 house fire in Chester has pleaded guilty to setting the blaze.

The juvenile, whose name has not been released, now faces a dispositional hearing - similar to a sentencing hearing for adults - in December. According to previous statements by Chester Police Chief Ryan Coffey, a younger juvenile was also interviewed during the investigation into the fire.

"The investigation shows that the juvenile charged was the only one responsible," Walker said. "There was another juvenile interviewed, but that juvenile was a witness rather than a perpetrator."

Walker said the 16-year-old juvenile admitted to arson, but the charge differed from residential arson.

"It was to a residence, but you can't charge residential arson unless somebody was living in the home," he said.

The house in question, located at 413 Church St., was a vacant property the owner was fixing up to rent. When contacted by the Herald Tribune after the fire, the property owner declined public comment.

When asked if the older juvenile is a first-time offender, Walker said he did not think he could comment on that.

"The juvenile stuff is so sensitive as to what we can relay," he said.

Walker said punishment for arson in juvenile cases can range from probation to time in the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice, depending on the severity of the case.