Arraignment of boy, 11, delayed until next week

Kim Smith

Friday, Aug. 11, 2000 | 10:13 a.m.

The arraignment of an 11-year-old boy charged with a half-dozen counts of arson was postponed Thursday until next week.

Deputy District Attorney Lori Coffin said Juvenile Court hearing master Sylvia Beller delayed the hearing because she didn't believe the boy was emotionally ready to participate in any court proceedings.

The hearing was rescheduled for Thursday, and the boy remains jailed.

The boy was arrested Aug. 2 in connection with a string of fires along Nellis Boulevard that kept Las Vegas firefighters jumping from one to the next.

Police booked the boy, who had several theft cases already pending against him, into the Clark County Juvenile Detention Center on nine arson and burglary charges.

A few days later the boy was allegedly sexually assaulted by a 12-year-old cellmate.

Earlier this week, the fire department cleared him of the most costly fire, one that caused $500,000 worth of damage to an incompleted convenience store.

After reviewing the case, the district attorney's office charged him Wednesday with six counts of arson involving a Peter Piper Pizza restaurant, a MacFrugal's Bargain Close-out store, a Kmart, an Albertson's grocery store, a Target store and an Isuzu Trooper.

The district attorney's office is reviewing the evidence in the alleged sexual assault case to determine if charges should be filed.