Teens accused of Porterville Library Fire released

Two 13-year-old boys accused of setting the fire that destroyed the Porterville Public Library on February 18 and led to the deaths of two Porterville Firefighters have been released, one of their attorneys said on Thursday.

David Candelaria, who represents one of the boys, said the judge in the case granted a motion filed by him and Attorney Richard Alvarez, who represents the other boy, to release the teens. Candelaria said the motion was granted during a hearing in the case held on Thursday at the Tulare County Juvenile Court in Visalia.

Candelaria said the conditions of the release are the teens have to wear a monitor and they basically have to stay at home. They have to receive permission from their probation officer to leave their home, Candelaria said.

The Tulare County District Attorney’s Office issued a statement saying it was against the release.

Thursday’s hearing was a short one, lasting only roughly thirty minutes. Only a few family members for Figueroa and Jones were admitted into the hearing, and only the parents of the two teens were permitted entrance.

After the hearing was finished, the District Attorney’s office said it couldn’t answer any questions about the case or what took place in the courtroom on Thursday.

The two teens have been charged with conspiracy, murder and arson in the February 18 fire that led to the deaths of Porterville Firefighters Patrick Jones and Raymond Figueroa.

The charges filed are the most severe that can be filed. Under California law, the teens can only be sentenced until the age of 25.

The next pre-trial hearing in the case has been scheduled for 10 a.m. October 15 at the juvenile court in Visalia.

Because the case involves minors, Candelaria said he was limited in what he could say about the case.

Katie Bryant, Jones’ sister, also said she couldn’t comment on the case but added the community of Porterville should know the hearing was held.