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Pipe-bomb suspects may face additional charges'Final disciplinary action' taken against two studentsBy Lynn Hotaling |
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Seven area teens may face additional charges in connection with pipe bomb detonations at the new Scotts Creek School construction site on Parris Branch.
Detective David Grant of the Jackson County Sheriff's Department said Tuesday that charges of larceny and vandalism are expected in connection with a Dec. 10 break-in at Scotts Creek Elementary School on Skyland Drive. Any new charges would be the result of an ongoing investigation into the Dec. 3 and 10 explosions, Grant said. Charged Dec. 11 and 13 with felony possession of weapons of mass destruction, malicious destruction of personal property and conspiracy are Smoky Mountain High seniors P.T. Parker, Josh Haddock, Matt Breedlove and Travis Shepard, all 17, and all of Sylva, and Jennifer Parker, also 17, of Cullowhee. A sixth SMHS student, a sophomore who has not been named due to his status as a minor, faces similar charges. Also charged is Southwestern Community College student Andrew MacRae, 17, of Whittier. Additional charges, possession of a weapon on school property, were added last week against all seven suspects. Both Scotts Creek Elementary School and the new school site were listed on arrest warrants in connection with those charges. Preliminary hearings for all seven defendants are tentatively scheduled for Jan. 11 in District Court. Based on statements made by MacRae, law enforcement personnel obtained a warrant to search the residence of Mark Thompson of Sylva, where MacRae was house-sitting the weekend of the second explosion. A completed pipe bomb was found at the Thompson home, Grant said. The search warrant also indicates that MacRae said he and several friends had detonated two pipe bombs at the Scotts Creek school site during the past week, and that another completed pipe bomb was at a residence where he was staying. Seized during the search was a disarmed pipe bomb, two bottles of Pyrodex, miscellaneous pieces of galvanized pipe (assorted sizes), one pair of scissors and one tube of Super Glue. MacRae was alone in the Thompson home for about three days while the family was away, Grant said. Nothing in the investigation points to any involvement by any member of the Thompson family, the detective said. Still under investigation is whether the suspects ever had the bombs on the high school campus, Grant said. No determination has yet been made as to whether drugs or alcohol played a part in the explosion of the bombs. Grant indicated that the pipe used came from Southern Lumber, and the Pyrodex, a substance similar to gun powder, came from Wal-Mart. Authorities have not determined if these items were purchased or stolen, Grant said. Last week's charges of possession of weapons on school property prompted a Dec. 22 called meeting of the Jackson County School Board to determine whether the six SMHS students should be suspended. Superintendent Frank Burrell declined Monday to state the specific nature of any action taken. Instead he read a prepared statement indicating board members took "final disciplinary action with respect to two students." The action taken "remains confidential under the law and is consistent with state law and board policy," he said. North Carolina law stipulates that a superintendent must suspend students who bring weapons onto school property for 365 days; however, statutes allow some flexibility on the part of school officials. A school board may modify the suspension requirement on a case-by-case basis and may provide suspended students educational services in an alternative setting, statutes say. Though school board members were present at 6 p.m., the scheduled start of their meeting, it was after 10 p.m. before that session was convened. Interviews with the students stretched long past the previously announced 30-minute time frame. Burrell and SMHS Principal Ken Henke said last week that the students, along with their parents and representatives, would be allowed to meet individually with them for 30 minutes last Wednesday. Burrell and Henke would then make recommendations to the school board, the superintendent said. Those talks, scheduled to be concluded by 6 p.m., were conducted by Burrell, Henke and Richard Schwartz of Raleigh, an attorney who has represented the local school board in a number of matters, most recently the 1998 court action brought by fired former SMHS Principal Judy Wolfe. Schwartz, who specializes in school law, is often consulted by school officials, Burrell said. Eric Ridenour of Sylva, attorney for P.T. Parker, confirmed that his client was one of the two alluded to in the school board's statement. "My client, P.T. Parker, was suspended from school," Ridenour said. Schwartz's participation may have slowed the proceedings, according to Ridenour. "We were unaware that Mr. Schwartz was going to be there, and I think his presence may have caused some unnecessary friction between the school and the students," Ridenour said. Assistant Editor Carey Phillips and News Editor Lisa Majors-Duff contributed to this report. |
Matt Breedlove
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Josh Haddock |
Jennifer Parker
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Peter Parker |
Travis Shephard |
Back to Archive: 12-30-99. |