Trials scheduled for juveniles accused of starting fire that destroyed Baker City’s Central Building

Published 10:40 am Monday, October 28, 2024

One of the three juveniles charged with arson in the fire that destroyed Baker City’s historic Central Building on May 22 is scheduled to go to trial on a gun theft charge on Wednesday, Oct. 30, Baker County District Attorney Greg Baxter said.

The three juveniles are slated for separate trials on the arson charges Nov. 21-22, Baxter said.

There could be changes in the schedule depending on discussions with juveniles’ attorneys, he said.

Oregon State Police, the lead agency in the fire investigation, announced on Aug. 30 that the three juveniles accused in the Central Building blaze are also charged in multiple thefts of guns.

Baxter said two of the three juveniles, including the one scheduled to go to trial Wednesday, remain at a detention center in The Dalles.

The third was released but is required to wear an ankle monitor and is also being monitored by camera, Baxter said.

Trials will be at the Baker County Courthouse but they are juvenile proceedings, which are not open to the public.

Officials haven’t released the names, ages or genders of the three suspects. The 108-year-old building was a total loss, and the three-story structure was demolished in July.

Baxter said in September that the criminal charges, which include felonies and misdemeanors, will remain in juvenile court.

The criteria for prosecuting juveniles in adult court are very difficult to meet, he said, and the burden is on the prosecutor to convince a judge to do so.

Marketplace