Three boys have been charged with arson in connection with the fire that destroyed an abandoned mill over the weekend in Sanford.

BIDDEFORD, Maine (AP) — Two 13-year-olds and a 12-year-old charged with setting fire to a Maine mill will undergo risk assessment and mental health evaluations before their next court date.

The Biddeford Journal-Tribune reports the attorneys representing the boys will negotiate a disposition of the case by their next court appearance in October. They appeared separately at Biddeford District Court on Thursday morning.

Assistant District Attorney Tanya Pierson says the first goal of the juvenile justice system is rehabilitation.

In June, a fire broke out in the rear tower of a vacant five-story textile mill known locally as Stenton Trust. Firefighters from 26 different communities fought back the blaze throughout the night.

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