San Gabriel threat suspect attending Cuesta despite court order

An 18-year-old charged with 30 felonies related to the evacuation and weekslong closure in September of San Gabriel Elementary School in Atascadero is attending Cuesta College despite a court order requiring him to stay away from “any school,” except a specific county-run school, college officials confirmed Wednesday.

A concerned parent of a Cuesta College student told The Tribune that he and other parents are worried for their teenagers’ safety after learning Bret Stephen Landen is taking classes at the community college.

The parent, who asked not to be named for the safety of his family, said he reported Landen’s attendance to the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office.

Landen, 18, of Atascadero pleaded not guilty Monday to 27 counts of making threats to commit a crime of violence, two counts of second-degree commercial burglary and one count of threatening to use a weapon of mass destruction in the Sept. 11 incident involving threatening letters and a low-toxicity form of cyanide placed on the elementary school campus in Atascadero. Landen was 17 at the time.

He is scheduled for a pre-preliminary hearing Wednesday and remains out of custody after his family posted $500,000 bail, according to court records.

At his Dec. 18 arraignment, Superior Court Judge Jacquelyn Duffy issued a court order stating that Landen must not use or possess any weapons, firearms or ammunition, nor be in any place where those items are present. In addition, Duffy ordered Landen to stay at least 100 yards away from any school with the exception of Chalk Mountain Community School in Atascadero, a county-run school for at-risk youth.

Cuesta College spokeswoman Lauren Milbourne on Wednesday confirmed that Landen is a currently enrolled student at the community college and that the school is looking for guidance from San Luis Obispo Superior Court.

She said he’s registered for 11 units and has been enrolled since the beginning of the spring 2016 semester. Classes began Jan. 19.

“Cuesta College has been working with the District Attorney’s Office to seek confirmation from the court that Cuesta College has the legal authority to enforce the court order dated Dec. 18, 2015,” Milbourne wrote. “In response to Cuesta College’s concerns, a motion will be heard in court on March 16, 2016, regarding this matter.”

Landen’s attorney, Jeff Stein, could not be reached immediately for comment Wednesday.

Assistant District Attorney Lee Cunningham said Wednesday that during Wednesday’s hearing, all parties will ask Duffy for clarification on the restraining order.

On Sept. 11, San Gabriel faculty found letters outside classrooms that instructed officials to “play a game,” similar to the popular “Saw” horror film franchise. In one letter, the writer instructed teachers to locate different sets of keys for classrooms and for padlocks left on school gates. The letter instructed staff to retrieve keys from a candleholder zip-tied to a chain-link fence near the playground that contained an unknown liquid.

Atascadero police Chief Jerel Haley previously said the liquid was determined to be a combination of low-grade cyanide — a form found in several common household products — and acid.

The school was closed for two weeks, costing the Atascadero Unified School District an estimated $206,000. The district has filed for restitution in Landen’s criminal case.

This story was originally published March 9, 2016 at 4:23 PM with the headline "San Gabriel threat suspect attending Cuesta despite court order."