May 23--Two teenagers face felony arson charges after authorities say they intentionally started a fire in the Englewood neighborhood last week that damaged several garages.
Jesus Espinoza and Adrian Ochoa, both 18, were each charged with five counts of arson after five garages were damaged. Cook County Judge Donald Panarese Jr. set bond for each of them at $150,000 on Sunday.
Espinoza and Ochoa were walking up and down an alley near the 5700 block of South Throop Street on Wednesday when they lit a garbage can on fire, prosecutors said in court. The flames spread to the garage nearest the trash can, destroying the structure, prosecutors said. Four other garages on the block suffered heat damage, said prosecutors, who did not specify the time the fire was set.
It was not clear from court records how the teenagers were identified as the offenders.
Espinoza, of the 5100 block of South Mozart Street, and Ochoa of the 3100 block of West 44th Street, attend a Pathways In Education high school, according to their attorney.
Each was arrested his home Saturday night, according to police records.
They are due in court next on Friday.
