Youth Pleads Guilty to School Fire, Vandalism

A 16-year-old Lancaster youth has pleaded guilty to arson and burglary charges stemming from a rampage at a Lancaster elementary school.

The youth was arrested March 2 along with Michael Ivan Smith, 21, of Lancaster in the Feb. 28 incident at Sierra School. The fire and vandalism caused $500,000 in damage to the school. The two told investigators that they had been drinking and spontaneously decided to vandalize the school because they were mad at the world, authorities said.

The youth’s attorney, Byron Finley, said his client pleaded guilty Tuesday in a hearing at Sylmar Juvenile Court and could face up to eight years in the California Youth Authority. The youth will remain in custody until he is sentenced April 11.