Crime & Safety

No Hard Time for Teens Who Burned Down Cotton Mill

Three teenagers were sentenced this afternoon for their roles in destroying a historic Douglasville cotton mill last May.

Three teenagers were sentenced Wednesday afternoon for their roles in destroying a historic Douglasville cotton mill last May, according to Andrew Agan, director of community relations for the Douglas County DA's Office.

Adrian Bond, 19, Terry Carringer, 19, and Jeromie Hand, 18, were sentenced to 60 to 120 days in a probation detention center and seven years of probation after each pleaded guilty to charges of burglary and second degree arson, reported Agan in an email.

The sentencing also requires each defendant to perform 100 hours of community service, submit to drug and psychological evaluations, attend counseling sessions and have no contact with each other.

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Assistant District Attorney Bonnie Smith explained at the hearing that Douglasville officials were not seeking restitution for the city-owned building because future plans for the site most likely would have required demolition of the building at considerable expense to the city. The defendants have been in custody since May and will remain in custody until they complete their time at the probation detention center.

"Any time our fire department and public safety officials have to respond to a building fire like this one, they are risking their lives to protect us all and should be commended," said Douglas County District Attorney David McDade. "In this case, those young men have spent many months in jail, hopefully recognizing that this stupid, senseless act was dangerous not only to themselves but to others and that they are lucky no one actually got hurt. Hopefully as they continue to serve their sentences, they will learn to make better choices in the future."

Find out what's happening in Douglasvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Related Douglasville Patch stories:

Bond Denied to 3 Arson Suspects

Arrests Expected Today in Mill Fire

4 Face Arson Charges In Mill Fire

Cotton Mill Fire Under Investigation

Cotton Mill Destroyed by Fire

Demolition by Neglect


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