SOUTH OGDEN — The Weber County Attorney's Office has filed charges in juvenile court against four boys accused of starting a fire that destroyed the abandoned former South Ogden Junior High School.
The building at 4300 Madison Ave. burned down in the early morning hours of Oct. 23. Prosecutor Ben Willoughby said investigators believe the boys, all 12-year-old South Ogden residents, were simply reckless and did not intend to damage the building. He declined to be more specific about what they are alleged to have done.
All four were charged with trespassing and violating night curfew, which runs from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. in South Ogden. Three of them were also charged with reckless burning, which would be a class A misdemeanor if they were charged as adults.
In a juvenile proceeding, the boys could come under the court's supervision and be required to pay restitution, perform community service and complete a young fire-setters program run by the Weber County fire marshal, Willoughby said.
Fire officials believe the fire's point of origin was on the second floor just above the stairwell, and there were indications that someone may have come in the east side of the building,
School officials said the school had been set for demolition that week. No injuries were reported.
— Paul Koepp