Two arrested in area arson case

ARTESIAN — Two teen suspects have been arrested in connection with a Nov. 24 fire that destroyed Artesian’s First Lutheran Church, Sanborn County Sheriff Tom Fridley said Thursday.

Both men were charged with burglary and arson, both Class 4 felonies. A Class 4 felony is punishable with a 10-year jail term and a fine of $20,000.

Arrested Sunday in Sioux Falls was John Bothwell, 19, of Artesian. He was indicted on both charges and is being held at Beadle County Correction Center in Huron.

Joey Johnson, 18, formerly of Fedora, was arrested Tuesday evening by Chippewa County deputies at his mother’s home in Clara City, Minn.

He is being held in Minnesota, Fridley said.

Each suspect is being held on $10,000 bail, he said. Neither has posted bail. “We’ve been working small leads and rumors since Nov. 24 when the church burned,” Fridley said, and the investigative work paid off this week.

It isn’t known at this time if Johnson will fight extradition proceedings, Fridley said.

The next court appearance is scheduled for May 25 in Woonsocket.

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