Wilson
06-02-2007, 01:54 PM
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/4854133.html
2 Woodlands teens charged with felony arson
By RENÉE C. LEE
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle
Two Woodlands teenagers have been charged with felony arson for allegedly causing a Magnolia house fire that injured two teenagers.
Austin Michael Artz, 17, and a 16-year-old, whose name was not released, face a first-degree felony charge of arson of a habitation, said Scott Burlin, Montgomery County's assistant fire marshal.
About eight to six teenagers were sleeping in the house when the fire broke out on May 12. Two of them suffered serious burns while trying to extinguish the fire on the home's back porch, Burlin said.
One of the two injured boys was transported by helicopter to Memorial Hermann Hospital Burn Center in Houston. Both have been released from the hospital, Burlin said.
Investigators believe Artz and the other teenager used a flammable liquid and a cigarette lighter to set the fire at 12219 Pin Oak Dr. in the Thousand Oaks subdivision. The blaze caused about $6,000 to $10,000 in damages, Burlin said.
The parents were not in the house when the fire started, he said.
Burlin said the motive appears to be that Artz and the 16-year-old were upset because they were told to leave a party at the house after an altercation.
The Pin Oak Drive party was one of four unsupervised drinking parties a group of teenagers attended that night in The Woodlands and Magnolia, he said.
Fortunately, someone inside the house noticed the fire and alerted the others to get out, Burlin said. It could have been a much worse situation if the fire had not been noticed early on, he said.
Montgomery County Sheriff's deputies arrested Artz on Saturday on a charge of public intoxication, and discovered there was an outstanding warrant for his arrest through the fire marshal's office.
The other teenager is not in custody, but charges were filed against him Thursday, Burlin said.
The pair could face life in prison or 5-99 years, plus up to a $10,000 fine if found guilty.
2 Woodlands teens charged with felony arson
By RENÉE C. LEE
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle
Two Woodlands teenagers have been charged with felony arson for allegedly causing a Magnolia house fire that injured two teenagers.
Austin Michael Artz, 17, and a 16-year-old, whose name was not released, face a first-degree felony charge of arson of a habitation, said Scott Burlin, Montgomery County's assistant fire marshal.
About eight to six teenagers were sleeping in the house when the fire broke out on May 12. Two of them suffered serious burns while trying to extinguish the fire on the home's back porch, Burlin said.
One of the two injured boys was transported by helicopter to Memorial Hermann Hospital Burn Center in Houston. Both have been released from the hospital, Burlin said.
Investigators believe Artz and the other teenager used a flammable liquid and a cigarette lighter to set the fire at 12219 Pin Oak Dr. in the Thousand Oaks subdivision. The blaze caused about $6,000 to $10,000 in damages, Burlin said.
The parents were not in the house when the fire started, he said.
Burlin said the motive appears to be that Artz and the 16-year-old were upset because they were told to leave a party at the house after an altercation.
The Pin Oak Drive party was one of four unsupervised drinking parties a group of teenagers attended that night in The Woodlands and Magnolia, he said.
Fortunately, someone inside the house noticed the fire and alerted the others to get out, Burlin said. It could have been a much worse situation if the fire had not been noticed early on, he said.
Montgomery County Sheriff's deputies arrested Artz on Saturday on a charge of public intoxication, and discovered there was an outstanding warrant for his arrest through the fire marshal's office.
The other teenager is not in custody, but charges were filed against him Thursday, Burlin said.
The pair could face life in prison or 5-99 years, plus up to a $10,000 fine if found guilty.