3 Teen-Agers Suspected of Robbing Classmates : Crime: Canyon High students are in custody after alleged victims report being bullied into turning over money and candy.

Three teen-agers with suspected gang affiliations are in custody on suspicion of robbing and trying to extort money from classmates at Canyon High School, authorities said Friday.

The juveniles have confronted students on campus during the past month, said Deputy Tony Miano of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station, forcibly taking money and candy on several occasions.

Miano said three students have reported being victimized since authorities learned of the thefts earlier this month.

“We have information that there are other victims out there, but that is unconfirmed,” he said.

Two suspected members of one gang, ages 14 and 15, and a 17-year-old student believed to be an “associate” of another gang were arrested Wednesday, Miano said. Their names were not released because they are juveniles.

Individual robberies and threats occur on campus occasionally, but this was a unique situation, said Canyon High Principal Michael Allmandinger, who has presided over various Santa Clarita schools for the past 12 years.

“I’ve never seen one that has been involved with a group organized in this manner, that is going out to make a business out of it,” he said.

The suspects took small amounts of money from their alleged victims in confrontations often witnessed by other students, Miano said, and also demanded much larger sums be paid in the future.

A 14-year-old student, for example, had $3 stolen from him in early December by two of the suspects, who then threatened to kill him if he didn’t give them $500, Miano said.

He said the suspects then “punched him out,” although the student was not seriously injured.

The student was initially fearful about reporting the incident, but he and his family eventually agreed to tell school officials, Miano said.

“Once it was learned that someone was finally stepping forward, other kids came forward and said similar things happened to them,” he said.

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One student reported he had about $35 to $40 and some candy taken from him by force during the past month, Miano said.

Sheriff’s deputies learned about the confrontations from school officials, Miano said. He declined to state how deputies learned the identities of the suspects.

Miano said he believes the risk of retaliation by the suspects is low and he hopes other students who have been victimized will come forward.

“It’s been our experience that retaliation occurs far less than the general public believes,” he said. “We’re real confident that the kids arrested are more concerned with the outcomes of their cases than retaliation on the victims.”

The juveniles arrested have confessed, Miano said. They are at Sylmar Juvenile Hall, facing charges of strong-arm robbery, attempted extortion, witness intimidation and petty theft.

Allmandinger said the students could also face expulsion from school.