Greenville student arrested and charged with threat admits to it
A 15-year-old Greenville student has admitted to making certain threatening allegations, according to Plumas County District Attorney David Hollister.
The juvenile was arraigned in juvenile court, (which is closed to the public), Jan. 27. A pretrial conference was heard Feb. 13. No trial date has been set, Hollister explained.
It was during the morning sessions at Greenville High School on Jan. 23, when the student allegedly made certain comments to an instructor during class. The statement was taken as threatening in nature toward students and faculty at the school, Hollister said, recapping the incident. “The incident was quickly reported to school administrators who promptly followed threat protocol,” he explained.
School officials, including GHS Principal Traci Cockerill quickly detained the suspect in an office and searched him for weapons and other evidence that might support his threat. The staff also called the sheriff’s office and a deputy in Greenville was immediately at the scene. A second deputy was en route from Chester.
“Appropriate initial interviews and searches occurred the same day,” Hollister said.
With the exception of a brief handwritten note, no evidence was discovered indicating any further steps were taken by the student who made the remarks. “That is, no weapons or writings or other items of evidence were found indicating an intention to act on the threat. Again, at no point was any student in danger,” Hollister noted.
On Jan. 27, the juvenile was taken into custody and charged with one felony count of criminal threats. He remains in custody of the Plumas County Probation Department.
Hollister said that the investigation is continuing with involved parties continuing to be contacted as soon as practical and so as not to compromise the investigation or harm individuals’ rights.
“We will make every effort to contact involved parties and relay information about the case to the students, families and faculty of Greenville High School,” Hollister said.
Because the suspect is a juvenile and the case is in juvenile court, there are limits to the amount and type of information that can be provided, Hollister explained. “Again, we do not want to compromise the case in any way nor do we want to harm the rights of any individual.”
The week following the threat at GHS, school staff organized a meeting with a panel of local officials to respond to any questions from the audience about the incident.
The panel included District 2 Supervisor Kevin Goss, Plumas Unified School District Governing Board Trustee Dave Keller, Tony Hobson from Behavioral Health, Sheriff Todd Johns, Sgt Steve Clark, CHP Commander Lt. Erik Egide, and Bill Bakker and Frank Carey from PUSD maintenance and operations.
School protocol as it stands now and what is soon to be implemented were discussed.
This is the first time that a PUSD student has been arrested and charged with making a felony threat of this nature.
