Charles City teenager’s case moved to adult court

By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com

A Charles City teenager originally charged in juvenile court is now being tried as an adult for allegedly damaging vehicles and setting fire to a train car earlier this year.

Charles Armstrong Jr., age 17, is charged in Floyd County District Court with one count of arson in the second degree, a Class C felony; and two counts of criminal mischief in the second degree, both Class D felonies.

According to the Charles City police report, officers responded to a call about 7:35 a.m. March 23 of someone breaking out windows in vehicles in the 1100 block of E Street.

“Officers arrived to find three male juveniles inside the fenced-in area,” the report said. “As officers were speaking with them and conducting their investigation, it was discovered a train car was on fire across the tracks.”

The report said all three juveniles were charged with several crimes relating to windows broken out of cars, trucks, a bus, campers and the train car. They were charged with criminal mischief due to the amount of total damage to the vehicles. They were also charged with arson for the fire inside the train car.

Charges of trespassing and interference with official acts were also filed, and all three juveniles were taken into custody by officials from North Iowa Detention.

On May 7, Armstrong’s case was moved to district court after a hearing on a motion by the Floyd County Attorney’s Office to waive the case to adult court.

Armstrong has pleaded not guilty and a jury trial has been set for Sept. 29.

Conviction of a Class C felony is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine. Conviction of a Class D felony is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and up to a $7,500 fine.

Armstrong was being held on $20,000 cash bond at the Central Iowa Juvenile Detention Center in Eldora.