Hollister
– A 17-year-old Hollister boy who pleaded guilty to setting a
December fire at the Target store in Hollister was sentenced Monday
in San Benito County Juvenile Court to 120 days in Juvenile Hall
and ordered to pay restitution for the damage caused by the
fire.
Hollister – A 17-year-old Hollister boy who pleaded guilty to setting a December fire at the Target store in Hollister was sentenced Monday in San Benito County Juvenile Court to 120 days in Juvenile Hall and ordered to pay restitution for the damage caused by the fire.
San Benito County Deputy District Attorney Stephen Wagner said the teen pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of recklessly causing a fire.
Wagner said he had not been involved with the pre-trial negotiations and could not say why the original charge of felony arson was reduced to a misdemeanor.
Wagner said the teen, or his family, must pay restitution to cover all of the store’s loses, including damage to the structure.
A hearing will be held in three to four weeks to determine restitution and whether the teen will have to pay the costs of emergency services, he said.
The Dec. 3 fire started at approximately 6:30pm and forced shoppers and workers to flee the crowded Target store. It took four area fire departments, seven fire vehicles and 32 firefighters to contain it.
The store reopened two days later following outlying area Target employees’ two-night cleaning and restocking effort.
Wagner said the boy used a bag of chips to start the fire.
The 17-year-old turned himself in to the San Benito County Sheriff’s Office and was arrested by the Hollister Police Department on Dec. 6.
Michael Van Cassell covers public safety for the Free Lance. He can be reached at 831-637-5566 ext. 335.
