Charges Sought Against Teen in Alleged Threats

Sheriff’s officials said Tuesday they will pursue criminal charges against one teenager for allegedly making threats against fellow students last week, but lack evidence to pursue similar charges against a second student.

The unrelated incidents both involved 13-year-old boys and occurred May 27 at Arroyo Seco and La Mesa junior high schools.

Lt. Tim Peters of the Santa Clarita sheriff’s station said detectives have petitioned the district attorney to bring charges against the Arroyo Seco student.

A spokesman for the district attorney said the Arroyo Seco case is under review. No charges have been filed.

In that case, the boy allegedly told classmates that he would soon be as infamous as Kipland Kinkel. Kinkel is the 15-year-old Springfield, Ore., student accused of killing his parents and then opening fire in a school cafeteria May 21, leaving two students dead and 22 injured.

Neither Santa Clarita boy was armed or had access to guns, authorities said. Both were released to their parents after being questioned by sheriff’s deputies.

Peters said there was not enough evidence to file charges against the La Mesa student.

“Making terrorist threats is a very specific charge. A victim has to believe that something is going to happen against them,” Peters said. “That was not the case with the La Mesa student.”

Both boys were detained by sheriff’s deputies and questioned Wednesday after other students said they had heard them make threats, officials said.

The boys’ names were not released because of their ages.