[ad_1]
One of three teenagers charged in connection with the 2020 arson that killed five members of a Senegalese family in Denver’s Green Valley Ranch neighborhood has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the case, court records show.
Dillon Siebert, 17, on Wednesday will be sentenced for his role in the deaths of Djibril Diol, 29; Adja Diol, 23; Khadija Diol, 2; Hassan Diol, 25; and 6-month-old Hawa Baye.
Siebert was 14 years old at the time of the fire and originally was charged in juvenile court, where proceedings and records are not public. However, his sentencing — on a single count of second-degree murder — will take place in adult court, court records show.
He originally was charged with 47 counts, including first-degree murder, attempted murder, first- and second-degree assault, first- and fourth-degree arson, and first and second-degree burglary.
The Denver Post has not previously identified Siebert by name because he was charged as a juvenile, but is doing so now because his criminal case is being adjudicated in adult court.
Hyoung Chang, The Denver Post
Abou Diol holds his head near the picture of his brother Djibril Diol and other family members after the news conference announcing the arrests of three juvenile suspects in the arson fire that killed Djibril Diol and four family members, at the Denver Police Crime Laboratory in Denver, Colorado on Wednesday. January 27, 2021.
The criminal cases against the two other teen suspects — Gavin Seymour and Kevin Bui, who both were charged as adults — are on hold until May, when the Colorado Supreme Court is expected to review the constitutionality of a search warrant that was critical to identifying them as suspects.
The three teens set the Green Valley Ranch home on fire on Aug. 5, 2020, because Bui erroneously thought a person who stole his phone lived there and he wanted revenge, law enforcement officers said during a November 2021 court hearing.
The teens bought masks to wear to hide their faces and splashed gasoline inside of the home before lighting it on fire, law enforcement officials testified.
Attorneys for Bui and Seymour requested that their cases be moved from adult to juvenile court, but a Denver District Court judge denied the request.
Bui and Seymour were 16 at the time of the fire and face dozens of charges, including first-degree murder.
Sign up to get crime news sent straight to your inbox each day.
[ad_2]
Source link