Port Townsend: Teens plead innocent in Aldrich’s fire case

The two teenagers charged with inadvertently causing the fire that burned the historic Aldrich’s grocery to the ground Aug. 4 have both pleaded innocent to the crimes.

The girl, of Port Townsend, and boy, of Bremerton, both 14, are charged with reckless burning in Jefferson County Juvenile Court.

The girl was ordered last week to attend a pretrial hearing Jan. 8 at 1:30 p.m. in the Superior Court in the Courthouse, 1820 Jefferson St., Port Townsend.

Her attorney, Stacey L. Bennetts, is seeking a fire forensics expert to review more than 600 pages of materials gathered in the investigation.

The boy was ordered to appear in court Dec. 4 at 8:30 a.m.

Prosecutors allege they lit fire to a number of recyclables in a bin next to the store, 940 Lawrence St., Port Townsend.

The early morning fire destroyed the building, causing more than $1 million in damage.

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