Teen charged in school field house arson pleads not guilty
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A teen accused of setting fire to an upstate New York school's field house and causing hundreds of thousands in damage has been ordered held without bail.
Nineteen-year-old Shameek McDuffie pleaded not guilty Monday to charges of felony arson, burglary, criminal mischief, petit larceny and criminal trespass.
Arguing for a low amount of bail, McDuffie's attorney said his client has no prior criminal history.
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But prosecutors countered that McDuffie faced "significant incarceration" for allegedly staring the Oct. 21 blaze that destroyed the field house of Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons High School in Schenectady.
Estimates to rebuild the Brother Lopez Athletic Field House have ranged from $400,000 to $500,000 — not including sports equipment and other items that were lost.
Two other teens have been charged in addition to McDuffie.