The mystery of the fire that prompted a wave of nostalgia and sadness throughout the tri-cities has apparently been solved.
Two male juveniles have been charged with starting the three-alarm fire at the former Pheasant Run resort on North Avenue earlier this year.
Two additional male juveniles have each been charged with trespassing at the resort as well.
Each of the juveniles appeared at a detention hearing this morning with their parents where Judge Anthony Coco ordered that the two charged with starting the fire, one from Carol Stream and one from Wheaton, be detained, while the other two, one from Carol Stream and one from Winfield, be released to the custody of their parents on home detention.
The detained juveniles have each been charged with one count of Arson (Class 2 Felony), one count of Burglary (Class 2 Felony), one count of Criminal Damage to Property (Class 4 Felony) and three counts of Criminal Trespass to a Building (Class B Misdemeanor). The two boys who were released to their parents’ custody have each been charged with two counts of Criminal Trespass to a Building. The boys’ ages range from fourteen to seventeen years old.
The St. Charles Police and Fire Departments, the State Fire Marshall and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives have been investigating the fire that started the afternoon of May 21. Following the investigation, authorities allege that the four juveniles illegally entered the property at the former resort. Once inside, two of the juveniles were involved in setting papers on fire at two separate locations, after which the two juveniles left the area.
Charges were filed against the four juveniles on Monday, July 25, 2022. The following day, the two juveniles facing the more serious charges turned themselves into authorities to await their detention hearing. The remaining two juveniles were notified of the charges against them and appeared in court this morning.
“For days, one hundred and seven firefighters from twenty-six fire departments put their lives in danger to control and ultimately extinguish a massive fire that heavily damaged the former Pheasant Run resort in St. Charles,” DuPage State’s Attorney Robert Berlin said. “It is alleged that the actions of these juveniles progressed from misdemeanor trespassing and vandalism to much more serious and potentially deadly felony criminal charges. Thankfully, no one sustained serious injury while battling the fire allegedly set in this case. The investigation into what happened at Pheasant Run was extremely thorough and I commend the St. Charles Police and Fire Departments along with the State Fire Marshall and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for their painstaking and collaborative efforts which allowed us to file today’s charges. I also thank Assistant State’s Attorneys Helen Kapas, Alyssa Rabulinski and Nick Catizone for their outstanding efforts the past two months on this case.”
“These arrests are the direct result of the hard work, determination and collective efforts of members of the St. Charles Police and Fire Departments, agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and The Office of the State Fire Marshall,” Keegan said. “Together, with assistance from DuPage County State’s Attorney Bob Berlin’s office, investigators tirelessly pieced together a solid criminal case, thereby holding those criminally responsible to answer for their conduct.”
The next court appearance for the two detained juveniles is scheduled for August 1, 2022, in front of Judge Coco. The next court appearance for the remaining two juveniles is scheduled for August 10, 2022, also in front of Judge Coco.
