2 teens arrested in Tenn. wildfires could be tried as adults
Authorities made two arrests — both teenagers — in last week’s deadly wildfires.
Officials made the announcement Wednesday during a news conference at the Sevier County Courthouse.
The teens were in custody in Sevier County, charged with aggravated arson, said Jimmy Dunn, 4th Judicial District attorney general. They awaited a bond hearing in Juvenile Court and could be transferred to Criminal Court if prosecutors move to try them as adults.
“Everything is on the table,” Dunn said.
He refused to give any details about the case, including the teens’ ages or genders, except that “they are not from Sevier County ... they are residents of Tennessee.”
Sara Reynolds, a youth services officer in Sevier County Juvenile Court, wouldn’t provide a copy of the petition charging ei- ther teen. State law typically denies public access to juvenile records, except in certain cases such as murder or rape. Arson isn’t on the list.
Those court records would become public if the case was transferred to Criminal Court.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation operated a hotline to coordinate reports of people missing since last week’s firestorm that ravaged Gatlinburg and surrounding areas, killing 14 people and injuring nearly 150 others.
The flames damaged or destroyed more than 1,700 homes and businesses.
The National Park Service said the fire that began on the Chimney Tops trail before spreading to Gatlinburg appeared to have been “human-caused.”
The NPS Investigative Branch Services, along with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, sought information from every person who hiked or knew someone who hiked in the area Nov. 23, when the fire was first reported.