Juvenile Arrested In Connection To High School Arson Case: DA

MONTGOMERY, NY — A dangerous situation at a Hudson Valley high school has been tied to a juvenile offender, according to officials.

Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler and Town of Montgomery Police Chief John Hank say that a juvenile was arrested and charged in connection with fires started at Valley Central High School on January 9. Due to the age of the juvenile offender, no further information about the juvenile is being released by officials.

According to court documents, on January 9, around 12:30 p.m., the juvenile started two separate fires in two bathrooms on the second floor of the school, when over 1,300 students were in the building. Another student was present in one of the restroom stalls when one of the fires was started. While there was fire damage and charring to the bathroom, there were no injuries.

"The unsettling allegations in this case were quickly investigated by talented members of law enforcement, including the Hudson Valley Arson & Explosives Task Force," Hoovler said. "Thankfully, there were no injuries in this case despite the danger posed by the actions of the alleged offender. Arson investigations present unique challenges and I praise the work of the police and investigators which resulted in this arrest. We will continue to supply the necessary resources in order to investigate arson crimes in Orange County."

The investigation was conducted by the Town of Montgomery Police Department, along with members of the Hudson Valley Arson & Explosives Task Force (including two Orange County District Attorney's Office Investigators) and the Montgomery Fire Department. The agencies were assisted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives - Hudson Valley Field Office, the Orange County District Attorney's Office, and the Orange County Fire Investigation Unit.

The district attorney thanked "all of the law enforcement agencies who worked together to conduct a prompt and thorough investigation to promote public safety, especially of those students and faculty in attendance that day." He also thanked the Valley Central School District for their help and cooperation.

"The coordination between the Town of Montgomery Police and the Hudson Valley Arson & Explosives Task Force, along with the cooperation from the Valley Central School District, led to an arrest of the juvenile allegedly responsible," Town of Montgomery Police Chief John Hank said.