Trial delayed for teen charged in school fire

BILLINGS (AP)

The trial of a teenager charged with arson after a fire that destroyed Huntley Project High School has been delayed while his attorneys appeal a judge's ruling to keep the case in adult court. Michael Victoria III's trial was set to begin Monday, but District Judge Russell Fagg pushed it back to Oct. 19 after defense attorneys said they would appeal the judge's denial of their request to move the case to Youth Court. The 17-year-old Victoria is one of four teens accused of twice breaking into the high school Sept. 18 and setting two fires that destroyed the building, displaced hundreds of students and caused millions of dollars in damages. He is charged with felony arson and two counts of felony burglary. Two of Victoria's co-defendants have pleaded guilty for their role in the fire. Katie Parshall was sentenced in April to youth probation and was ordered to pay $100 a month or 50 percent of her income whichever is greater toward restitution for seven years. Parshall, who was 14 at the time of the fire, pleaded guilty to two counts of burglary. In May, 19-year-old Gregory Three Fingers pleaded guilty to arson by accountability and burglary. His sentencing is scheduled for July 28. Charles J. McCade, who was also 14 at the time of the fire, has been charged in Youth Court. His trial is set to begin Monday.