Youths may face felony charges in cart fire
Monday, May 6, 2002
Steamboat Springs — A prank in the early morning hours Sunday may result in felony charges for two Steamboat Springs boys.
Steamboat Springs Police are seeking second-degree arson charges against two boys, ages 16 and 17, Assistant Police Chief Art Fiebing said.
Police are recommending the felony charges because the two boys allegedly set a shopping cart on fire before 5 a.m. in the Wal-Mart parking lot, 1805 Central Park Drive.
Police found the burning shopping cart, which is worth $150, at about 5 a.m.
"The shopping cart was destroyed," he said.
The two boys were caught by authorities on Sunday. Police were able to connect the boys to the fire because of information reported to police by a convenience store clerk.
After the boys allegedly set the fire, they went to 7-Eleven, 30258 W. U.S. 40, Fiebing said.
"A clerk overheard the two boys bragging about the fire," he said.
Once the boys left the store in a vehicle, the clerk called police.
The clerk also supplied police with the vehicle's license plate number.
Police then traced the vehicle to the mother of the 16-year-old boy.
The boy was taken into custody later in the day and questioned at the department.
Fiebing said the boy told investigators that he and his friend were in the parking lot when they decided to light the shopping cart on fire using gasoline and newspaper.
He was later released to his parents.
The 14th Judicial District Attorney's Office is reviewing the incident and will determine if the boys are charged.
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