Cases near end for 4 Moorpark High students arrested in May after false reports

Authorities have all but resolved potential criminal proceedings against four Moorpark High School students arrested in May after a flurry of threats of violence against the school.

Joey Buttitta, a spokesperson for the Ventura County District Attorney's Office, said Tuesday afternoon that prosecutors rejected cases against two students due to insufficient evidence, but that two additional students could still face legal repercussions in juvenile court that they falsely reported an emergency if they don't complete a six-month restorative justice program.

The arrests by the Ventura County Sheriff's Office came after three incidents of falsified threats over three days that triggered two shelter-in-place orders and a series of police investigations. In a May 21 statement, the Moorpark Unified School District described two of the incidents as "copycat" false reports.

Sgt. Juan Ponce said in an email that investigations into the three threats relied on a combination of technology, witness interviews and in some cases, admissions of involvement by students.

"After a thorough investigation in each of the cases, there was sufficient probable cause to arrest the 4 students for falsely reporting an emergency," Ponce wrote.

In a statement, the district said county prosecutors' decisions are outside its purview. The district can't share details of school disciplinary actions against the minor students, the statement says, but will "enforce appropriate disciplinary measures in accordance with our policies."

"Our district takes any threats made toward our schools with the utmost seriousness," the statement says.

First threat

On May 15, according to a release from the sheriff's office , students flagged a social media post to school staff and the Moorpark High School resource officer that indicated a school shooting was going to take place.

The account's creator was not immediately identifiable. Administrators issued a shelter-in-place order while the threat was investigated, lifting it after officers determined there was no threat to campus.

Investigators eventually identified a student who allegedly created the social media account and post, arresting her on May 17 after acquiring additional evidence. On May 23, they arrested a second student whom they said was also involved in posting the threat.

The two female students, aged 14 and 15, were arrested for allegedly falsely reporting an emergency and booked at the Ventura County Juvenile Justice Center.

The DA's office has not pursued juvenile court filings for the two students. Instead, they were referred to the county's six-month Harm to Healing restorative justice program, which aims to divert non-violent youth offenders away from the juvenile justice system, according to Buttitta. Each of the two students could still face prosecution if they do not complete the program.

Second threat

On May 16, the day after the first shelter-in-place order, a report of an individual with a firearm on school grounds hit Moorpark High's WeTip anonymous tip hotline, according to a second sheriff's release.

School administrators issued another shelter in place while the threat was investigated. While the investigation was ongoing, two more reports came through the WeTip line with more information on the specific location of the firearm. Deputies and school staff searched "numerous" areas mentioned in the reports and found no threat to campus.

Investigators identified and arrested a 17-year-old male student whom they suspected submitted the WeTip reports and alleged that he falsely reported an emergency.

The district attorney's office rejected the case, Buttitta said, because there was insufficient evidence the student had written the messages.

Third threat

On May 17, for the third day in a row, the school received another report of a threat, according to the sheriff's office . This one, also submitted through WeTip, claimed there were fireworks or explosives on school grounds.

This time, administrators did not issue a shelter-in-place order while investigators worked. Daniel Wolowicz, a district spokesperson, said in an email that the school made the decision in coordination with investigators.

During the investigation, the school received a second WeTip report, similar to the first. On May 20, deputies arrested a 15-year-old male student after finding "additional evidence" linking him to the reports. Prosecutors also rejected that case for insufficient evidence, Buttitta said.

Ron Bamieh, an attorney for the student, said the school suspended him and that he faced possible expulsion. Bamieh said that the school — which assisted with the investigation but did not make the arrest — was under pressure after three straight days of reported threats and acted too quickly.

"They needed to blame somebody," Bamieh said.

The district said that the decision to arrest was made by the sheriff's office "following a thorough investigation."

Bamieh said the student's family is still deciding whether or not it will file a lawsuit but requested an apology from Moorpark Unified Superintendent Kelli Hays for its disciplinary actions. That apology has yet to come, he said.

The district would not indicate whether it plans to issue any apology or retraction in the wake of prosecutors' decision not to move forward.

"Because those involved were minors, we cannot comment on any disciplinary action taken nor the outcome of these incidents," Wolowicz wrote. "The district remains committed to maintaining the safety of our students, staff and school community and will continue to work alongside the Ventura County Sheriff's Office to ensure our school community remains safe."

Isaiah Murtaugh covers education for the Ventura County Star in partnership with Report for America. Reach him at isaiah.murtaugh@vcstar.com or 805-437-0236 and follow him on Twitter @ isaiahmurtaugh and @ vcsschools . You can support this work with a tax-deductible donation to Report for America .

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Cases near end for 4 Moorpark High students arrested in May after false reports