Teen church arson suspect to be tried as adult

COLUMBUS, Ind. (Brown County Democrat) - Less than two weeks from his 18th birthday, Columbus teenager Aaron Rider learned Tuesday he will be tried as an adult for his alleged role in the July 14 arson that destroyed a historic church in southwestern Brown County .

Brown Circuit Court Judge Judy Stewart decided to waive Rider, 17, to adult court during a presumptive waiver hearing Tuesday afternoon.

“It breaks my heart to see a young person in your position,” Stewart said to a visibly upset Rider and family and friends attending the hearing. “But there will be a lot of sentencing options available to the court if you are convicted.”

Authorities have arrested and charged seven Columbus teenagers in connection with the fire.

The seven teens allegedly set fire to Grandview Apostolic Church while high on LSD, believing the church to be a “satanic” or “devil-worshipping church,” according to a probable cause affidavit filed in Brown Circuit Court.

The fire completely destroyed the church, built in 1892 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Rider admitted to starting the fire by pouring gasoline on a rear corner of the church and igniting it with a burning tree branch, according to testimony given Tuesday by Tim Murray, an arson investigator with the Indiana State Fire Marshal’s Office, who was called down to investigate the suspicious blaze.

Others arrested and charged in connection with the arson include Stephen A. Moore, 18; Cody L. Watts, 18; Dalton J. Poe, 18; Jonathan K. Mings, 18; Nathan R. Bauermeister, 18; and Skylar C. Ping, 19. All have been formally charged with two counts of arson, a Class B felony; two counts of conspiracy to commit arson, a Class B felony; and institutional criminal mischief, a Class D felony.

Rider will now face the same charges , according to Brown County Prosecutor Jim Oliver, who argued Rider should be tried as an adult because he is so close to turning 18 and allegedly started the fire.
 

This article was contributed from our partner paper The Brown County Democrat.