The announcement of the arrests of the two adolescents was made at a news conference Wednesday afternoon at the Sevier County, Tennessee Courthouse, according to the Knoxville News Sentinel.
District Attorney General James Dunn said the two teenagers, who are from Tennessee, but not from Sevier County, will be facing aggravated arson charges in the Chimney Tops area of Great Smoky Mountain National Park Nov. 23. State law prevents officials from releasing the names of the two teens, reports the Fox News Channel.
Officials did not offer any specifics on how the fires were allegedly started by the two adolescents but did say the investigation is ongoing and more charges could follow. The teens are being held in the Sevier County juvenile detention center. The teens await a bond hearing in Juvenile Court and could be transferred to Criminal Court if prosecutors decide the charges warrant trying them as adults.
Youth Services officer Sara Reynolds would not provide a copy of the petition charging the two teens, but if their case is transferred to Criminal Court, their names will be made public.
The Associated Press reports that Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) and U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agents have worked around the clock on the case since last week. Great Smoky Mountains National Park Chief Ranger Steve Kloster said the public was “critical” in providing information through the tip line that led to the arrests.
Karyssa Dalton is a 19-year-old whose grandmother Pamela Johnson remains missing in the blaze. Dalton says the two should be held accountable, even though they’re young. “I mean, what if somebody came through their town, and set their town on fire, and lost their loved ones, and lost all their homes?” Dalton said. “It’s not fair.”
