Following a brief scare last week in which exploding firecrackers were mistaken for a bomb, four people have been arrested in connection with a series of arson-related incidents at Live Oak High School.
Two Live Oak students, Victor Villegas, 18, of Morgan Hill, and a 14-year-old male from Morgan Hill were arrested during the investigation into the Nov. 25 incident on the school's campus at 1505 East Main Ave., according to Morgan Hill Police sources.
Both suspects were charged with felony arson, including possession of an incendiary device and setting a fire to an occupied building, according to a police. Villegas was booked into county jail and the juvenile was cited and released to his parents. Neither suspect had a history of arson, police said.
The investigation revealed the two students were also associated with at least three other fires started intentionally on the school's campus in recent weeks, police said.
Live Oak High School principal Nick Boden said the recent arrests will hopefully bring an end to incendiary deeds on campus.
"My assistant principals have been working diligently to get to the bottom of this, and we've had some good support," Boden said.
In the most recent incident, which occurred about 10 a.m. Tuesday, school officials reported to MHPD that a plastic water bottle containing gasoline had been found in one of the outside garbage cans.
Minutes later, the Santa Clara County Fire Department responded to reports of a possible explosion on campus, which turned out to be firecrackers, according to Boden.
The most serious of the incidents in the alleged arson spree took place Nov. 19, when a garbage can outside the school cafeteria was set on fire. That fire was quickly extinguished by a Live Oak teacher before emergency personnel arrived, but still caused about $500 in damage to the outside of the building.
The following day, Nov. 20, two female students, ages 14 and 15, were arrested for their alleged involvement in that incident and released to their parents, siad police.
Last Tuesday's incident is the fourth reported arson-related event at the campus since Sept. 10, according to Sgt. Jerry Neumayer of the MHPD. On the scene of the Nov. 19 fire, Capt. Debbie Stocksick of the SCCFD added that an unreported fire was set on campus the previous day.
All the fires have been small, causing no injuries and no structure damage.
The police department, SCCFD arson investigator Dennis Johnson, and school officials have worked together in the investigation of the arson spree, police said.
Moments after the Nov. 19 fire, Boden offered a $100 reward for information about that incident. He declined to comment on whether or not the reward had been redeemed.
Cmdr. David Swing of MHPD said the school's campus surveillance system captured video of the crimes which was useful in the investigation. He added that concerned students with knowledge of the incidents also assisted in identifying the suspects.
Neumayer said police officers and the arson investigator are still developing leads to more suspects and other possible unreported arsons on the Live Oak High School campus.
Anyone with more information on fires intentionally set at Live Oak High School may call the MHPD at (408) 779-2101, or the Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers at (408) 947-STOP.
Michael Moore Michael Moore covers county and law enforcement issues for the Morgan Hill Times. Reach him at (408) 779-4106, ext. 202, or mmoore@morganhilltimes.com.
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