The three boys charged with arson in connection with the Stenton Trust mill fire June 23 will undergo evaluations before their next court appearances in October, a judge said during their appearances on Thursday. TAMMY WELLS/Journal Tribune file photo
By then, a resolution in the case could be reached. Assistant District Attorney Tanya Pierson said she and the attorneys representing the boys will attempt to negotiate a disposition of the case by their next court appearance.
The boys, all of Sanford, appeared individually at Biddeford District Court on Thursday morning, where their cases were continued until October. Two of the boys will appear for a disposition hearing Oct. 12, the third on Oct. 26.
Pierson told reporters following the brief court appearances that the first goal of the juvenile justice system is rehabilitation.
“Punishment is the last criteria,” she said.
All three boys are on house arrest as part of their release from Long Creek Youth Development Center on July 5, which means they must be supervised by a parent or guardian at all times and are not allowed privileges such as having friends visit, Pierson said following the boys’ appearance.
She said their juvenile community corrections officer could at some point modify their house arrest and impose a curfew instead.
The boys appeared before Judge Daniel Driscoll.
“Good morning,” said Driscoll, before the hearing started, smiling down from the bench at one of the boys. “Breathe,” he told the youngster.
Attorney Cory McKenna, representing one of the boys, told Driscoll that the teen is doing well.
“He’s been doing excellent,” said McKenna.” He’s following all the house rules and is on a positive track.”
Pierson said two of the boys are in the custody of their parents, the third with grandparents. All, she said, have intensive home services, both for the juveniles and their parents or guardians, including case management, what she described as multi-systemic therapy, counseling and more.
Their family members and some of those providing therapy or services were in court for the boys’ appearances.
The court has released the the boys’ names because they are charged with a felony. The Journal Tribune has chosen not to name the juveniles because of their ages.
Fire roared through the rear tower of the vacant five-story former textile mill on River Street known locally as Stenton Trust, erupting just before 7 p.m. on June 23.
It quickly spread throughout the rear tower of the building and raged on through the night. Firefighters from 26 communities fought the blaze.
City Manager Steve Buck said initial estimates for demolition costs are about $1.5 million.
The boys were taken into custody June 25 and remained at Long Creek Youth Development Center until their detention hearing July 5.
Judge Driscoll on Thursday afternoon declined to release affidavits prepared for arrest or search warrants and other documents associated with the case.
— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or twells@journaltribune.com.
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