Andy Hoffman, The Hawk Eye, Burlington, Iowa –
Two 13-year-olds charged with arson in connection with a fire at Corse Elementary School were released from custody Wednesday, but will be required to wear electronic monitoring devices.
Daniel Lee Lynn and Austin Riley Williams, both from Burlington, are charged with second-degree arson for allegedly setting a fire to the roof of the elementary school. The fire caused about $10,000 in damages.
During a brief hearing before District Associate Judge Michael Dieterich, attorneys representing both youths denied the accusations pending against the teenagers.
Attorneys Pamela Dettmann and Stephanie Schultz, who were appointed to represent the teens, asked the court to set the next hearing at least two months away to allow time for the boys to be evaluated.
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Dieterich set the next hearing for 9:30 a.m. Oct. 16.
During Wednesday’s hearing, Luke Hansen, an assistant Des Moines County attorney, along with Dettmann and Schultz, jointly asked the court to set several guidelines for the boys’ release.
In addition to the electronic monitoring, the boys also will be required to attend day treatment sessions, continue to work with juvenile court officials as directed and agree to undergo an evaluation.
Court officials said the evaluation, which will play a key role in assisting the court in determining whether the boys should be tried as adults or returned to juvenile court, could take at least two months to complete.
The teens, who have been kept at the Lee County Juvenile Detention Center since their arrests last week, appeared in court Wednesday in handcuffs. Several relatives of both boys appeared in court, but remained silent during the hearing.
According to investigators, the boys allegedly climbed onto the roof of the elementary school Aug. 5 and used gasoline, a lighter and an aerosol can to start of fire in a skylight. Authorities said the boys were trying to gain entry into the school.
The fire was extinguished by Burlington firefighters.
Investigators began focusing on Lynn and Williams after reviewing security cameras at the school. Authorities say the images of the two youths were captured on the security cameras on the roof of the school.
