Charles City teen pleads guilty to arson, criminal mischief; sentencing set

By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com

A Charles City teenager whose felony arson and criminal mischief case was moved to adult court has pleaded guilty to two charges and will be sentenced in August.

Charles Armstrong Jr., age 17, was 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.

Last week, Armstrong entered written pleas of guilty to the charge of arson and to one of the counts of criminal mischief. As part of a plea agreement, the Floyd County Attorney’s Office will dismiss the other charge of criminal mischief.

The county attorney will recommend that Anderson receive a sentence of three to five years of probation on each charge and be required to pay restitution for the damage that he and two other juveniles caused in an incident in March.

The county attorney will also recommend that Armstrong be eligible for a deferred sentence, meaning that if he meets the terms of his sentence including probation he will have the charges and the conviction removed from his criminal record.

District Court Judge DeDra Schroeder accepted the written pleas of guilty last week and set sentencing for Aug. 31. The judge is not required to follow the sentencing recommendations in a plea agreement.

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. When they arrived they also found a train car on fire.

A statement filed in court shows a total of $12,894 damage to nine cars and pickups, a bus, a camper and two train cars, belonging to 11 different people.

Charges were filed against three juveniles. On May 7, Armstrong’s case was moved to district court after a hearing on a motion by the Floyd County Attorney’s Office.

The cases of the other two juveniles remain in juvenile court. All three youths could be found liable for the alleged damages.