A Tyrone teen accused of arson in last year’s fire at the Christ United Methodist Church was before a Blair County judge earlier this week.
The 17-year-old boy had spent the last four months at the Blair County Detention Home. John Dively of the county’s Juvenile Probation Office said while the teen was there he was evaluated by Adelphoi Village, a Labrobe-based firm that houses juveniles.
Dively said a 150-page report from Adelphoi was submitted about the boy. He said his department made a recommendation based on the report to Judge Daniel Milliron. The boy’s attorney and his mother also appeared during the teen’s court appearance. The recommendation from the county’s Juvenile Probation Office was for the teen to be transferred to a secure facility.
Judge Milliron accepted the recommendation the boy be sent to an Adelphoi facility near Latrobe in Westmoreland County. Dively said the boy would spend nine to 12 months there.
Dively said a trial for arson and related charges against the teen isn’t expected to start for several weeks. Another teen charged in the church arson, pled guilty earlier this year. He has agreed to be a witness against the 17-year-old.
The teen that pled guilty earlier this year was 17 at the time of the fire and faced charges through the juvenile system. The boy awaiting trial has also been charged in an unrelated burglary incident.
