Charge dismissed in MCCTC fire case

YOUNGSTOWN — A charge has been dismissed against a girl who was to go on trial in last May’s fire at the Mahoning County Career and Technical Center.

Pamela Schindler, who was 17 when the charge of criminal damaging was filed against her in the multi-million-dollar blaze that destroyed a wing of the school on Palmyra Road, was to go on trial Monday in county juvenile court.

After a three-month investigation, Canfield Police alleged Schindler, of the South Range school district, lighted a cigarette lighter near a bucket of solvent in an art room. The solvent caught fire, and when a student tried to throw the flaming bucket into a sink, the fire spread.

Anthony D’Apolito, administrator at the juvenile court, said Tuesday the charge was dismissed without prejudice, which means it could be refiled.

He said there could be any of a number of reasons why the charge was dismissed at this time, and he does not know the specifics.

He referred that question to the juvenile prosecutor’s office, which could not be reached for comment Tuesday.