Teen Cousins Plead Not Guilty in School Pay-Phone Blast; Trial Set
Two 17-year-olds pleaded not guilty in Juvenile Court on Wednesday to making a bomb that blew up a pay phone early Monday at Costa Mesa’s Estancia High School.
At the arraignment, Juvenile Court Commissioner James Odriozola detained the two boys, who are cousins, in Juvenile Hall and set a pretrial conference for next Wednesday. The trial is scheduled for June 2, Senior Deputy Dist. Atty. Joe D’Agostino said.
One of the youths, an Estancia senior, faces five felony counts in connection with the bombing, including possession of a destructive device, use of the device and possession of materials to make a bomb. He also was charged with possession of morphine and the tranquilizer Vicodin, for which he had no prescription, D’Agostino said.
The other teen, a senior at Newport Harbor High School, is charged with three felony counts related to the bombing.
Costa Mesa police arrested the teens as they were driving out of Estancia High’s parking lot shortly after the pay phone blew up. No one was injured. The school was shut down for the day.
If convicted, both teens could be sent to the California Youth Authority until they are 21, D’Agostino said. Their names are not being released because of their age.
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