SAN ANTONIO — Threats involving schools dominated the docket in the 436th Juvenile Court Wednesday morning.
Two 12-year-old boys and a 16-year old girl all faced Judge Cruz Shaw for charges related to recent threats against a number of local schools.
The first shackled boy to shuffle to the bench is accused of an alleged threat against Luna Middle School in NISD and a fellow student.
Sheriff's investigators said the threat was made September 7 off campus and after school, when investigators said the boy showed photos of firearms and threatened to "shoot up the school."
With a warrant in hand, deputies said they arrested the boy at a west Bexar County home and executed a search warrant, saying they seized a .380 caliber pistol with an extended magazine, ammunition, two fake pistols and plate carriers for body armor.
In court, a probation officer told the judge although it was the boy's first referral to court, he does have one prior incident related to his school when administrators claimed he brought a bullet proof vest to school.
With regard to the current incident, a prosecutor told the judge "He sent multiple pictures of firearms to the person he told he was going to shoot up the school," and they believed he wasn't allowing himself to be adequately supervised.
The boy's mother said she doesn't believe her son is a threat, blaming the trouble on girls that have bullied her son in the past.
The mother said "I've never had any discipline issues with him prior. He is a military fanatic. He wants to join the military, that's why he likes the camouflage and the tactical stuff."
Urging the judge to release the boy to the care of his family, the defense attorney echoed the mother's concerns about other students.
"There was bullying. There were incidents where they pushed him down stairs. There were instances where he had attempted to block them from social media so they couldn't contact him," the attorney claimed, adding "It's very clear that the pictures (of guns) that were shown, it was an Amazon cart, and on that Amazon cart it says at the bottom in all caps, JOKE. It clearly, on its face, said joke."
Judge Shaw told the boy "Regardless if you were joking or not, this is serious and you have to understand that. You scared a lot of people! Do you understand that? Joke or not, there are different ways to handle this. If you are having bullies at school, you need to talk to mom, talk to school, talk to somebody. This is not the way to handle this!"
Shortly after the boy was ordered detained, his 16-year-old sister made an appearance, with the state telling the judge ""She's charged with hindering the apprehension of a felon, resisting arrest/detention and taking or attempting to take a weapon from a police officer."
The representative told the judge the teen has been to court before, answering to charges of possessing a weapon in a prohibited place, criminal mischief and evading arrest in July.
Her lawyer told the judge she simply reacted in fear when deputies executed the warrant for her brother, waking her from a sound sleep and leaving her confused.
The teen's mother said she is a trauma survivor whose instinct was to protect her younger brother.
The teen came prepared with a written statement, telling the judge she has been in therapy, working to be a better person and that she has been proud of her efforts. She said she would like a chance to continue with therapy and staying on track. Shaw acknowledged her struggles, but said "At the end of the day, you have to rise above all that." She too, was ordered detained.
In a completely unrelated case involving unspecified schools, another 12-year-old boy also made an appearance on a threats charge involving schools.
A probation officer said the boy is no stranger to the justice system, having failed every drug test he has been given since June.
A prosecutor told the judge this time "He made verbal threats to kill multiple students and as a result of threats to schools, multiple schools were on high alert."
Both court officers agreed they believe the boy is a danger to himself or others and is not allowing himself to be adequately supervised.
Defense attorney Monica Guerrero told the judge the mother would like the boy to be released and allowed to return home.
Pushing back, Shaw admonished the boy for failing repeated drug tests after previous brushes with the law.
"You have taken probation as a joke. I can send you to prison! Yet you still want to kick it. You still want to smoke weed. You still want to pop benzos!" Shaw exclaimed, adding "What do you expect me to do!"
The boy told the judge he did not want to face more serious consequences, and he was ordered to remain in custody.
All three are due back on September 25 for the next round of detention hearings.