The teenager who in April set fire to the beloved pagoda in Tacoma’s Point Defiance Park apologized Tuesday for his actions.
The 16-year-old boy said he never intended to hurt so many people when he purposely ignited the blaze that heavily damaged the 97-year-old building where thousands have been married or celebrated other milestones over the decades.
The boy said he felt bad for causing his family and the community so much pain.
Superior Court Judge Kitty-Ann van Doorninck acknowledged his apology, but sentenced him to the maximum under the standard range – 142 to 189 weeks in the custody of the state’s Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration.
Under state law, the Department of Social and Health Services, which runs Juvenile Rehabilitation, can hold juvenile offenders until they turn 21.
“It’s one of those situations where it’s hard to understand why you would do this multiple times,” said van Doorninck, who currently is assigned to juvenile court. “I think it’s really appropriate for you to go to JRA for the longest period of time that I can sentence you.”
The boy, whom The News Tribune is not naming because of his age, pleaded guilty last month to eight crimes, including first-degree arson in the pagoda fire.
Prosecutors also said he set other smaller fires in Point Defiance Park, vandalized the pagoda on an earlier occasion and planned to set another fire the night he was arrested.
A Ruston police officer found him pedaling his bike late at night while carrying a can of gasoline.
The boy is prohibited from entering the park as part of his sentence.
Van Doorninck will hold a hearing in March to determine how much restitution the boy will have to pay.
The commission of Metro Parks Tacoma so far has approved spending $1.6 million to repair the pagoda, the centerpiece of the park’s Japanese garden. Insurance policies will cover some of that cost.
Deputy prosecutor Fred Wist said outside court Tuesday the boy was lucky no one was hurt, including himself, during his crime spree.
Defense attorney Lauren Gotchy told van Doorninck before sentencing that the boy has trouble communicating and making friends and has been tested for autism.
Jessie Bell, who works for juvenile probation, said the teen will benefit from therapy while in custody.
His parents attended the sentencing hearing. Both spoke of their love for their son, who had no prior criminal record, and promised to support him once he’s released from custody.
“He’s a really good boy. He’s made some bad choices,” said the teen’s mother, who’s visited him at Remann Hall every day since his arrest.
Adam Lynn: 253-597-8644
adam.lynn@thenewstribune.com
blog.thenewstribune.com/crime
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