MIAMI – A North Bay Village teen who authorities said set three cars and a newly-renovated home on fire because he was upset over a school suspension has now been charged as an adult in Miami-Dade County court.
Matthew Vega, 17, appeared in adult bond court on Thursday as he faces eight felony arson and burglary charges in connection with the Feb. 28 fires in the island community.
Deputies with the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office said he set three cars on fire at the Treasure Isle Care Centre, a nursing home at 1735 N. Treasure Drive before breaking into a house on Mutiny Avenue and setting several fires inside, burning a hole in the roof and causing “extensive smoke damage throughout.”
Investigators said they received a tip that Vega was the suspect and took him into custody — initially on juvenile charges — on March 4. They said he had similar pants, Crocs and a bracelet that were seen in surveillance videos of the incidents.
An alleged confession was redacted from the report, though authorities previously said that Vega was upset that the suspension left him unable to play sports.
Family members appeared in court with Vega on Thursday morning.
They and family members asked the judge to release him on bond, saying he’s considered to be a good kid and that the charges are “significantly out of character.”
“The dean of discipline wrote a letter of support to his school, the assistant principal wrote a letter of support in attesting to his good character, in how he’s never had any behavioral issues,” an unidentified person said during the court appearance.
Ultimately, the judge ordered he be held on pre-trial detention.
“Based upon what I’m seeing, based upon what I’m reading, this case does quality for pre-trial detention, so he will be held — no bond,” she said.
As of Thursday, he was being held in the Metrowest Detention Center, jail records show.