Megan Jones
Chicago Tribune
(TNS)
Two teenagers pleaded guilty Wednesday to arson for setting a massive fire in May 2022 that destroyed large sections of the shuttered Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles, officials said.
The two boys, a 17-year-old Carol Stream resident and a 15-year-old from Wheaton, pleaded guilty to starting the three-alarm fire on May 21 that damaged the main lobby, the Bourbon Street area and A, B and E wings of the hotel rooms at Pheasant Run. Fire crews were able to save the 16-story tower on the property.
The boys were originally charged with arson, burglary, criminal damage to property and three counts of criminal trespass, officials previously said.
Two other male teenagers, a 15-year-old from Winfield and a 14-year-old from Carol Stream, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor trespassing at the resort in connection with the incident.
All four teenagers will be sentenced on April 19, officials with the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office said.
Because the four are charged as juveniles, their names will not be released, a common practice in Illinois juvenile courts.
The fire broke out around 4:40 p.m. May 21 and firefighters found large sections of the resort at 4051 E. Main St. in St. Charles engulfed in flames.
More than 100 firefighters from more than 25 fire departments were called to help extinguish the blaze. An investigation was then launched by the St. Charles police and fire departments, the state fire marshal and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The four teens were accused of illegally entering the property and, once inside, two of the teens were accused of setting papers on fire in two locations and then leaving the area without extinguishing the fires, according to officials.
The resort had closed its door in March 2020 after attempts to auction the resort were unsuccessful.
On Monday, the St. Charles City Council approved a resolution to create a tax increment financing district in hopes to spur redevelopment of the property.
©2023 Chicago Tribune. Visit chicagotribune.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
