PANAMA CITY — A 14-year-old who is accused of two arson incidents has been waived up to face the charges in adult court, according to court documents.
Austin Macmenamie was arrested by the Bureau of Fire and Arson Investigations following fires on Jan. 2 and 3. Macmenamie was initially charged on two counts of arson and burglary as a juvenile, but he was waived up to adult court Thursday and appeared at the Bay County Jail to hear the charges, according to official documents.
Macmenamie’s bond was set at a total of $14,000.
According to investigators, Macmenamie allegedly set fire to trailer at 2630 A Twilight Ave. on Jan. 3.
“In the presence of his mother, … Macmenamie admitted to entering the trailer and setting the cardboard products on fire with a lighter,” officers reported.
Macmenamie went on to also tell arson investigators the day prior he entered a structure at 2534 N. Mercedes Ave. While inside the structure, Macmenamie said he poured fuel on items in the structure and set it ablaze, according to investigation notes.
Court records do not specify a motive or whether the structures were occupied, but no one is believed to have been injured.
He was arrested that day and taken to the Department of Juvenile Justice. Nearly three weeks later, the State Attorney’s Office waived the 14-year-old up to adult court and got a warrant for his arrest, according to court documents.
Macmenamie was ordered to be held without release until a bond could be set at his first appearance. He faces two counts of second-degree arson and two counts of burglary of a structure. Macmenamie will be arraigned on the charges in March.