Teen Who Set Maryland Home Ablaze With People Inside Charged As Adult, No Bail: Fire Marshal
Maryland Fire Marshal officials announced Thursday, August 14, that a 17-year-old who is accused of lighting a bedroom on fire in a Salisbury home while people were inside is being charged as an adult and could be imprisoned for the rest of his life if found guilty.
The teenager will face adult charges for purposefully lighting the Salisbury house on fire while occupants were present.
The teenager will face adult charges for purposefully lighting the Salisbury house on fire while occupants were present.
The teenager will face adult charges for purposefully lighting the Salisbury house on fire while occupants were present.
The teenager will face adult charges for purposefully lighting the Salisbury house on fire while occupants were present.
The teenager will face adult charges for purposefully lighting the Salisbury house on fire while occupants were present.
The teenager will face adult charges for purposefully lighting the Salisbury house on fire while occupants were present.
The fire started inside a one-story house on Grant Avenue at around 9:54 a.m. on Sunday, August 10, according to Deputy State Fire Marshals.
Investigators concluded that the fire was deliberately started in a bedroom when two persons were inside, and twenty firefighters put out the flames in ten minutes.
Both residents are credited with escaping unharmed thanks to a functioning smoke alarm.
The teenager was brought to the Wicomico County Detention Center after being detained on Wednesday, August 13. Both a court commissioner and a judge reviewing his bond the next day refused him bail.
The teenager may be sentenced to 199 years in prison and fined over $100,000 if found guilty on all the counts.
He faces the following charges:
- First-degree arson;
- Second-degree arson;
- Two counts of attempted first-degree murder;
- Two counts of attempted second-degree murder;
- Two counts of first-degree assault;
- Two counts of second-degree assault;
- Two counts of reckless endangerment;
- First-degree malicious burning;
- Two count of destruction of property over $1,000.
According to fire officials, two residents were inside the house when the juvenile started the fire, which is why they are facing attempted murder and assault charges.
