CHARGES MAY FACE TEEN WHO TURNED IN POT

SANTA CLARITA--The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said Tuesday it
will seek charges in Juvenile Court against an Arroyo Seco Junior High
School student who turned over marijuana to his parents. Tyler Hagen, 13,
of Saugus could face a possession charge, while three other Arroyo students
could be charged with offenses ranging from possession to the sale of a
controlled substance on school grounds, according to Lt. Tim Peters of the
Santa Clarita sheriff's station.

Sheriff's officials, without giving specific details, cast doubt on Tyler's
story that he turned the drug over to his parents in order to help a scared
friend dispose of the pot.

The department said in a statement that an investigation has "determined
that the initial story from the juveniles could not be supported by the
facts." Tyler's parents, Chris and Linda Hagen, who could not be reached,
have maintained that their son acted responsibly by handing over the
marijuana, contending that drug-prevention programs encourage children to
go to their parents when they have questions or problems with drugs.

The family's attorney, Gloria Allred, declined comment.

After reviewing statements by witnesses and the boys, however, sheriff's
officials disputed Tyler's account, saying he did more than report his
friends' activities to his parents.

"Marijuana was purchased and possessed on campus and partially consumed
after school at the home of one of the subjects," Peters said.

"There were four people involved in this, including Tyler Hagen," he added.
"There were other witnesses who knew that the subjects, including Tyler,
were in possession of the marijuana on school grounds." School officials
were roundly criticized after Tyler was forced to serve a five-day
suspension beginning Monday for not going to officials immediately to
report the violation of the district's zerotolerance policy on illegal drugs.

Michael von Buelow, the William S. Hart Union School District's assistant
superintendent for personnel and student services, said school officials
were discouraged by the public outcry after Tyler's suspension.

Peters said school officials acted properly by suspending Tyler and added
that investigators have consistently backed the school district during the
probe.

Peters acknowledged that there were conflicting statements about what
transpired, "some which have been made public and some that have come as a
result of our criminal investigation." But he said, "the bottom line is
that these kids violated school policies because they had marijuana on
school grounds."