San Ysidro student faces criminal charges for bottle bombs prank
18-year-old Elphbert Laforteza lost the opportunity to walk with his classmates during graduation at San Ysidro high school. The student-athlete and ROTC cadet lost a scholarship, and now he faces felony criminal charges for the senior prank he pulled in early June.
During a previous interview with FOX5, the teenager said "It was nothing more than a senior prank to me."
But the San Diego county district attorney's office doesn't see it that way. Three felony charges have been filed against him for bringing homemade bottle bombs on campus. The student's father, Christian Laforteza, learned about the criminal charges through media reports.
"Not that I know of," the senior Laforteza said.
FOX 5 informed the senior Laforteza about those charges including: possession of a destructive device in a public place, possession of ingredients to make a destructive device and intent to use a destructive device.
"They said they filed charges, but they didn't say what were the charge," Laforteza said.
The prank shutdown the high school on June 5th. Police say Laforteza brought at least 12 homemade bottle bombs on campus. Several of the crude chemical bombs exploded in trash cans during lunchtime.
San Ysidro high school principal Hector Espinoza believes the felony charges are a bit harsh. He points out days following Laforteza's incident, two students brought dry ice bombs to University City high. He questions if those students will face similar criminal charges.
"It's going to be very interesting to see what the type of consequences and types of charges will be filed against them," Espinoza said.
Meanwhile, the student-athlete expressed remorse for his actions in previous t-v interviews. His father says his son's future is uncertain.
"He's depressed you know. I don't know. He's scared and terrified," the elder Laforteza said.
Laforteza is scheduled for an arraignment at the South Bay courthouse in Chula Vista on Thursday, June 18th. If he's convicted on the charges, he faces up to six years in prison.
During a previous interview with FOX5, the teenager said "It was nothing more than a senior prank to me."
But the San Diego county district attorney's office doesn't see it that way. Three felony charges have been filed against him for bringing homemade bottle bombs on campus. The student's father, Christian Laforteza, learned about the criminal charges through media reports.
"Not that I know of," the senior Laforteza said.
FOX 5 informed the senior Laforteza about those charges including: possession of a destructive device in a public place, possession of ingredients to make a destructive device and intent to use a destructive device.
"They said they filed charges, but they didn't say what were the charge," Laforteza said.
The prank shutdown the high school on June 5th. Police say Laforteza brought at least 12 homemade bottle bombs on campus. Several of the crude chemical bombs exploded in trash cans during lunchtime.
San Ysidro high school principal Hector Espinoza believes the felony charges are a bit harsh. He points out days following Laforteza's incident, two students brought dry ice bombs to University City high. He questions if those students will face similar criminal charges.
"It's going to be very interesting to see what the type of consequences and types of charges will be filed against them," Espinoza said.
Meanwhile, the student-athlete expressed remorse for his actions in previous t-v interviews. His father says his son's future is uncertain.
"He's depressed you know. I don't know. He's scared and terrified," the elder Laforteza said.
Laforteza is scheduled for an arraignment at the South Bay courthouse in Chula Vista on Thursday, June 18th. If he's convicted on the charges, he faces up to six years in prison.
