UPDATE: Arrest made in break-in, arson at Paul's Market

Glad they got him. Hope he is punished to the fullest as allowed by law. There was no reason to do this. Shame on you young man!

The kid looked drunk and does not remember what happened. And missy he turned himself in to police. Have him pay for the damage and some community service time.

And I am SURE he would have turned himself in had his pictures not been taken. He set fire to a store and caused thousands in damages. I am sure he does not remember---the start of his defense and lack of accountability for his actions. Yes, give him community service. What a joke.

Gmoney,

Since when is a 25 year old considered a kid. At that age, I was serving our country and raising two children. So if his actions burned down the whole store, put many local people out of work would you be saying the same thing? Or if he robbed a bank, spent the money on more booze then turned himself in, community service is a good enough punishment? He caused harm to the community and there fore should pay the appropiate punishment. You know the old saying, if you can't do the time don't do the crime.

You can see his charges at Idaho Repository

His friends also turned him in.

Oldguy-

Clearly the guy is an immature individual. Seemed drunk and out of it. Stupid people do stupid things...i'm sure he will suffer the embarrassment from doing such a stupid act. Not like anything serious happened.

Gotta love MH people. :)

MGMH,

Nothing serious? So the cost of lost products and repairs to Pauls in today's economy is not serious? Also the costs incurred by the Fire Department are not serious? Guess all he deserves is a pat on the head and asked not to do this again? Since it was not serious, MGMH, are you volunteering to repay all the costs? And if he did this once what is to say he won't get drunk again and doing something even more stupid next time? Maybe nextt time he gets drunk, he decides to break into a house, start it on fire and someone loses their life savings or even worse their life. He deserves and earned more punishment than the embarrassment since that did not stop him from doing it. And please do not use the excuse it was the booze. I have been heavily intoxicated many times when I was that age and never did anything like this nor even considered it since I was raised to respect other's property.

Gotta love those that think a crime is not serious unless it happens to them.

In my opinion, it's folks with attitudes like GMONEY and MGMH that are helping our country go down the tubes. This fella is not a kid, he is an adult. Being drunk is not an excuse. People need to be held accountable for their poor behavior, not have other people make excuses for them and enable them. And the attitude of "well, no biggie, it doesn't effect me" is pretty self centered. I suppose if he'd have done this to your home or other thing that was important to you, you'd be singing the blues then. How about thinking outside your own little world?

If this young Man had pulled a stunt or a gag that backfired community service or public embarrassment may be enough punishment, how ever every step of what he did is a crime. If we turn our backs on criminal behavior, or fail to recognize its seriousness, that sort of behavior tends to escalate- hey, I got away with it. What can I get away with next? The fact that he turned himself in, with or without pictures, is a positive step, but only a step. He needs to pay for what he did. If he had been a Juvenile his parents would be paying. Thats one of the things about being an adult-you are supposed to be responsible for your OWN actions

It seems everyone is either saying punish him hard or let him have it easy with community service. I think perhaps a nice middle ground would be the best punishment. Something that will teach him the lesson without being too easy on him, but won't ruin the rest of his life either (let's keep in mind that most people in this town can't afford to repay such a high amount). Drinking is definitely not an excuse for such reckless behavior, but it certainly was a contributing factor. He needs some serious soul searching and certainly needs to grow up. We all make mistakes, so let's try not to call for a hanging, alright? I certainly hope the justice system will do it's job and that we all can move on from all the bitterness. I'm just glad that no one was physically harmed and that the fire department is always there when you need them.

Oldguy-

Things are only a big deal if you make them a big deal. I'm sure he won't do it again. Sure this fella has learned his lesson. ;) And no, i will not be volunteering to repay all the costs..but you seem interested. You should look into it. :)

MGMH,

If you are so sure he won't do it again, how about you be responsible for him? And no I am not paying for a crime I did not commit.

Resident,

I totally agree with you. He does not deserve to be stoned in the town center nor does he deserve a pat on the head and asked not to something like it again. I am old school, let the punishment fit the crime.

Oldguy-

Personally, i don't care if he does or doesn't do it again, simply stating if i were in his shows, i'd probably would have learned my lesson. :)

MGMH,

You drove my point home quite nicely; "Personally, I don't care if he does or doesn't do it again." You would if it were your property he destroyed.

No he doesn't need to have the rest of his life ruined. I agree, let the punishment fit the crime.

oldguy-

Like i stated, I don't. I'm making a point that if i were in his shoes, i probably would not do it again. My point being...he may not do something as foolish again. Get what i'm saying, or should i spell it out some more?

Does anyone know if Pauls is still able to process Idaho power and other payments ?

MGMH,

Spell away since I am not grasping what you are saying. Seems to me you are defending his actions as not important to the community overall. He violated not only a law but the common decency of respecting someone's property be it a business.

And this is why this country is in the shape that it is in.

Paul's Market I am sure has a deductible on the damages, which is what Paul's Market will have to pay before the damages are covered by insurance. This is all passed on to us, as consumers.

Food for thought when you defend the actions of a criminal. Being drunk is not a defense, it was STUPID. Destroying the property of another, criminal. Being caught on tape, priceless.

This guy is just sorry he got caught. Now, the local PD will get him off and we get to pay for it two fold. Gotta love the "criminal justice" system.

Gosh....

He lit a the place on fire, broke expensive computer equipment because they couldnt process western union payments on Monday...broke the front door out. I guarantee this isnt the first time he's set fire to things, just the first time hes been caught because Pauls market has better security cameras than any bank Ive ever seen :) Hope he gets what he deserves.

Missy quit hating on the local government/PD/ECSO. Its so old and tired.

MHG: Only old because you worked for the public defender's office. At least be honest. Did not say one word about the ECSO. Thank you.

You are crazy Missy..I DO NOT work for the public defender...OMG. I work in Boise FYI...Geez for a fact checker yours arent very accurate at all.

And one more thing Missy..I agree with most of what you say...but you claim to know things that you have no idea about and that bothers me, just like saying you know where Ive worked. You have no idea who I am. And in the past you have complained about just about every dept in Elmore County. It does get old. But I DO know a lady that does work for Mr Ratliff....Im wonderig who you think I am :) I ll have to find out...crazy crazy.

I thought the charges arson/burglary were excessive. From what I know nothing was taken and and the fire started from a discarded cigarrette. If he had driven a car into the store while drunk would he be charged with bulglary and arson or just DUI and pay restitution for damages on a first offense. He did vandalize property and should be held accountable.

MHG, I am sorry if I have mixed you up with someone else. At one point a lady with a screen name of "sas" posted on here and she, from what I can remember, also posted under a screen name---that I thought---had mhg in it. She had worked for the PD here in MH (but does not now). I am sorry that I confused you with her and her with you. It was not my intent to mislead anyone. I am sorry. I am apparently incorrect.

oldguy-

Like i've stated, i hope this guy has learned his lesson. :) In no way am i siding with him. To make myself clear, i'm sure this fella has learned a lesson by all this public ridicule. Is all. :)

Gmoney,

Have you looked up the definition of both? Here there are:

Arson is the crime of intentionally and maliciously setting fire to buildings, wildland areas, cars or other property with the intent to cause damage.

Burglary (also called breaking and entering and sometimes housebreaking)is a crime, the essence of which is illegal entry into a building for the purposes of committing an offence.

So guess he accidently started the fire and that should be ignored and the darn glass door should have gotten in his way?

Maybe I am being to harsh on this young man that made the decision to get intoxicated to the point where common sense and decency were forgotten. What truly is upsetting to me is the comments that reflect his actions are not that serious and should be overlooked or downplayed. Like the old saying goes , nip it in the butt early.

Old guy

Your definitions explain my point exactly. Droping a cigarette on the floor does not signify malicious intent to start a fire. Again entering with intent to commit a crime = burglary, well my understanding is that nothing was taken. I know I don't have all the facts and am just going by the newspaper account. I think sometimes these prosecutors are just trying to create a record for themselves of felony cases. I hope he has good legal representation.

As I recall, we still live in a country called the United States of America of which abides by the "presumption of innocence." What this means is you are "not guilty" until proved "guilty" (or innocent until proved guilty, though innocent and not guilty do not mean the same thing). It seems most posters have already hanged him; when does he get the fair trial as promised by the Constitution?

Oh, I understand he has been released; something about insufficient evidence to establish he committed the alleged crime(s). What ya all gonna do with the body of an innocent man?