Two Arrested for Bomb Explosion at High School

  • Lockers and contents were damaged in a felony bomb explosion at FMHS between 11:00 p.m. 
Saturday night and 3:00 a.m. Sunday morning, June 3.

    Lockers and contents were damaged in a felony bomb explosion at FMHS between 11:00 p.m. Saturday night and 3:00 a.m. Sunday morning, June 3.

$1,450,000 Bail Set For Neenach Men

Between the hours of 11:00 p.m. Saturday, June 2 and 3:00 a.m. Sunday, June 3 a bomb was detonated in a bank of lockers at Frazier Mountain High School, Kern County Sheriff’s Sr. Deputy Vince Martinez said in an interview June 4.

The damage was discovered Sunday morning by members of the Frazier Park Church. Don Eubank, "Around Town" columnist for The Mountain Enterprise took photos. Members of the Kern County Sheriff’s Department Bomb Squad responded to the scene and assisted in the investigation. "This is the first time any of us have seen an explosive device detonated in a school," Martinez said. The explosion tore apart two banks of lockers at the center of the school building, damaging and destroying students’ possessions and textbooks.

"It is a deplorable act of violence and vandalism that won’t be tolerated. Our community must mobilize to make things be different," Superintendent Shelly Mason said in an interview Monday, June 4.

FMHS senior Alexander Timothy Hancock, age 18, from Neenach was arrested at about noon on June 4 while at school, just days from graduating. Thomas John Tosh, also 18 and from Neenach, was arrested at 4:45 p.m. Monday. He came to the Frazier Park substation on his own after learning deputies wished to speak with him. Tosh graduated early and held a full time job in Valencia, Martinez said.

During the investigation, deputies were told the bombing was meant as a prank, "I don’t think they thought out the consequences," Martinez said. "I think they were surprised at the extent of the damage. The statute says that any time an explosive device is detonated, a person is guilty of ‘using a destructive device to terrorize….’" The young men, both legally adults, "filled a CO2 paint ball canister with black powder and a fuse," the deputy explained, saying that the Kern County bomb squad is still processing information.

Both men were in custody in the Central Receiving Facility in Bakersfield on Tuesday, with a mandatory bail of $1,450,000 each.

They are charged with using a destructive device to terrorize, trafficking an unlawful destructive device, conspiracy and illegal possession of a destructive device.

The Kern County District Attorney’s office was expected to file charges within the week.

This is part of the June 08, 2007 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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