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Teen admits guilt in Middletown church arson

Teen admits guilt in Middletown church arson
Posted at 3:25 PM, Mar 30, 2017
and last updated 2017-03-31 08:15:39-04

HAMILTON, Ohio -- A 16-year-old teen accused of setting fire to a Middletown church and vandalizing a gas station has admitted guilt in both crimes.

The Middletown teen pleaded true, the equivalent of guilty in adult court, to vandalism and arson today in Butler County Juvenile Court, WCPO news partner the Journal-News reported.

The boy was charged with aggravated arson, breaking and entering theft and accused of starting the Jan. 22 fire at Tytus Avenue First Church of God. He was also charged with vandalizing a Middletown gas station before the church fire.

Prosecutors dismissed the remaining charges against the teen in exchange for the plea.

Judge Ronald Craft set sentencing for next month. The teen could be sentenced to the Ohio Department of Youth Services for up to his 21st birthday, to the county detention center for up to 90 days on each charge, or to the county rehabilitation center for four to six months.

The teen will remain in the detention center until sentencing.

Read more on this story from the Journal-News here.