PROCTORVILLE — A 17-year-old charged with arson in three separate fires in the Proctorville area in April has admitted his guilt.

The teen made his plea during a trial Friday in juvenile court before Judge David Payne.

The first fire destroyed an abandoned house at 628 Township Road 86 on April 7. The second destroyed another abandoned house at 697 Township Road on April 11; and the third damaged an outside shed at 628 Township Road 86 on April 14. No injuries were reported at any of the three fires.

The youth originally faced three felony arson charges and two felony charges of breaking and entering.

However Assistant Prosecutor Kevin Waldo reduced one arson charge to a misdemeanor because of the value of the outbuilding.

The juvenile had initially come forward as a witness, according to Shane Cartmill, public information officer for the division of state fire marshal at the time of the investigation.

“Through interviews (he) made statements that implicated himself,” Cartmill said.

The teen was sentenced to one of the Ohio Department of Youth Services facilities for a minimum of six months with the term running no longer than the age of 21.