Judge To Determine If Arson Suspect Will Be Tried As Adult
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
The juvenile suspect in the Leesburg church fire will remain in a South Bend detention center, a judge ruled Thursday.
Timothy Grevenstuk, 17, of Leesburg, was charged with intimidation and obstruction of justice in connection with the church fire investigation.
At the hearing in Juvenile Court, Judge Duane Huffer set an Aug. 15 hearing to determine whether Grevenstuk should be tried as an adult. Local prosecutors are asking the case be waived to adult court.
Grevenstuk was detained late Tuesday night after he refused to speak with investigators and allegedly interfered with the investigation.
According to police, Grevenstuk allegedly told a 14-year-old female acquaintance that he set the church fire. He then allegedly spoke with her again, against the request of the FBI to not contact witnesses.
The witness told police Grevenstuk threatened to kill her if she told police what she knew.
Prosecutors believe the church was burglarized before the fire was set. They allege that the burglar may have set the fire after not finding money.
Grevenstuk was on probation, said David Kolbe, the county prosecutor. He was convicted of theft in 1994, driving under the influence of alcohol in 1996 and violating probation this year, all juvenile charges.
Grevenstuk is the son of Sheila and Michael Grevenstuk, who were convicted of arson and sentenced to prison last summer. They pleaded guilty to burning their Milford home to collect insurance money.
Sheila served only six weeks of a four-year sentence, while Michael's sentence was suspended because of poor health.
Investigation into the church fire continues. Charges are not expected to be filed until the investigation is complete.
The July 22 fire destroyed the historic Grace Brethren Church in Leesburg. [[In-content Ad]]
The juvenile suspect in the Leesburg church fire will remain in a South Bend detention center, a judge ruled Thursday.
Timothy Grevenstuk, 17, of Leesburg, was charged with intimidation and obstruction of justice in connection with the church fire investigation.
At the hearing in Juvenile Court, Judge Duane Huffer set an Aug. 15 hearing to determine whether Grevenstuk should be tried as an adult. Local prosecutors are asking the case be waived to adult court.
Grevenstuk was detained late Tuesday night after he refused to speak with investigators and allegedly interfered with the investigation.
According to police, Grevenstuk allegedly told a 14-year-old female acquaintance that he set the church fire. He then allegedly spoke with her again, against the request of the FBI to not contact witnesses.
The witness told police Grevenstuk threatened to kill her if she told police what she knew.
Prosecutors believe the church was burglarized before the fire was set. They allege that the burglar may have set the fire after not finding money.
Grevenstuk was on probation, said David Kolbe, the county prosecutor. He was convicted of theft in 1994, driving under the influence of alcohol in 1996 and violating probation this year, all juvenile charges.
Grevenstuk is the son of Sheila and Michael Grevenstuk, who were convicted of arson and sentenced to prison last summer. They pleaded guilty to burning their Milford home to collect insurance money.
Sheila served only six weeks of a four-year sentence, while Michael's sentence was suspended because of poor health.
Investigation into the church fire continues. Charges are not expected to be filed until the investigation is complete.
The July 22 fire destroyed the historic Grace Brethren Church in Leesburg. [[In-content Ad]]