EDWARDS CO.—An Albion teen has been charged with multiple offenses after an incident in which authorities allege he almost caused a fire in a local restaurant.
Cody Brown
Cody Brown, 18, has been charged today in Edwards County with a single count of Arson after an incident on April 22, in which he was accused of igniting all the burners on all the stovetops of El Ranchito Mexican Restaurant in Albion and leaving them going, which incident caused fire damage to the building (but fortunately, the newly-re-formed Albion Volunteer Fire Department was able to put down quickly). The building is the former Dairy Queen, then Elsie’s Diner, owned by Craig and Mary Borowiak.
But that’s not all Brown was charged with.
Court documents show that he was also charged with Burglary “for entering said building to commit an Arson); then a second count of Burglary for entering the business of JDL Industries on East Elam in Albion with intent to commit a theft; Criminal Damage to Property (two doors at JDL, in excess of $300); a second count of Criminal Damage to Property at JDL (this being a 1998 Jeep Cherokee); a third count of Criminal Damage to Property at JDL (this being a 1993 Mercury Cougar XR7; and misdemeanors in the form of Criminal Trespass to a Vehicle (for operating a vehicle belonging to JDL, a 1986 Ford F-150 4X4 pickup); a second count of Criminal Trespass to a Vehicle (for operating the 1998 Jeep Cherokee at JDL); and a single count of Theft for stealing less than $500 of currency belonging to JDL.
A 16-year-old was also allegedly with Brown and has been charged in connection with the alleged crimes, but we don’t have those as the kid was charged as a juvenile (nor do we know if this is a male or female juvenile). Brown is being held at the White County Jail on a $100,000 bail ($10,000 cash bond).
Whatever possessed this kid to allegedly go on this spree might shake out in the future; but for right now, he’s just set for a first appearance tomorrow in Edwards County court