San Gabriel threat defendant can’t attend Cuesta, judge says

Bret Stephen Landen, 18, who has pleaded not guilty to 30 felony charges including making threats to commit violence for his alleged role in the two-week closure of San Gabriel Elementary in September, will not attend any school or college until his criminal case is resolved.

Landen, of Atascadero, was in San Luis Obispo Superior Court on Wednesday for a pre-preliminary hearing to clarify a judge’s order barring him from being within 100 yards of “any school” save for a county-run school in Atascadero.

Last week, parents of Cuesta College students contacted the school and the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office expressing their concern over Landen’s enrollment in classes there despite the order. College officials and prosecutors asked the court to clarify the definition of “school” in relation to the order.

On Wednesday, Superior Court Judge Jacquelyn Duffy said the term “school” includes colleges and universities. Landen’s attorney, Jeff Stein, told Duffy that Landen would voluntarily put college aside until there is resolution in his case.

“In a broad sense, we realize it’s in everybody’s best interest that (Landen) not attend college,” Stein said.

Cuesta College announced Monday that Landen voluntarily dropped out of classes once concerns were raised, although the college still wanted a clarification from the court on the order.

Landen will be back in court for another pretrial hearing on April 28.

This story was originally published March 16, 2016 at 3:06 PM with the headline "San Gabriel threat defendant can’t attend Cuesta, judge says."