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Highlands Today

Juvenile charged with first-degree arson

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By BRAD DICKERSON

Highlands Today

Published: June 2, 2009

SEBRING - A 14-year-old male was arrested Thursday on a warrant alleging first-degree arson.

The juvenile was also charged with burglary of a dwelling or structure and causing damage over $1,000.

On May 14, at 4:35 a.m., a newspaper delivery driver reportedly smelled something burning in the area of Oak Knolls Circle. Both the driver and his passenger followed the smell to a home located a block from them at a home on the 6900 block of Acorn Terrace, according to the warrant report.

The Lorida Volunteer Fire Department arrived less than 10 minutes later. Chief Swen Swenson said he saw several small fires burning inside, which caused more than $10,000 in damage.

Once the fire was determined as arson, a K-9 deputy with the sheriff's office was brought in to track from the scene after shoe and barefoot impressions were seen, the report stated.

No one who responded to the fire was wearing shoes that would have left an impression similar in size and tread design as those found at the scene, and no one walked around barefoot.

Investigators eventually went to a home in the 200 block of Oak Knolls Circle at approximately 7:09 a.m. The only person inside who was awake and dressed at that time was the suspect.

The juvenile was reportedly wearing a par of Adidas brand shoes that were different sizes. The right shoe was a size eight, while the left was a size nine-and-a-half, the report stated. The suspect said he got them from a friend.

Photographs of the barefoot impression taken at the arson scene, bio-foam impressions and photos of the juvenile's bare feet allegedly matched the foot impressions left at the scene.

Highlands County Sheriff's Deputy Richard Kilborn III made the arrest.

Highlands Today reporter Brad Dickerson can be reached at (863) 386-5838 or bdickerson@highlandstoday.com

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