SUSPENDED STUDENT'S FAMILY HIRES LAWYER

LOS ANGELES, May 12 (UPI) - Famed Los Angeles attorney Gloria Allred says
the suspension of a Saugus junior high school student who told his parents
about a marijuana problem at school was severe and unfair.

Allred says her 13-year-old client, Tyler Hagen, is being punished for
trying to "do the right thing" in handing over marijuana that he'd received
at school to his parents.

On April 30, the teenager was standing outside Arroyo Seco Junior High
School waiting for his ride home when a student he knew said he had
purchased marijuana, but wanted to get rid of it.

The friend asked the teen if he could help. Allred said the boy believed the
right course of action was to take the marijuana home, tell his parents what
happened and give it to them.

His parents, Chris and Linda Hagen, contacted the Los Angeles County
Sheriff's Department and their son's school to discuss what had happened.

But rather that commending their son for bringing the issue to his parents'
attention, the school told them he would be suspended for five days and
would be forced to transfer out of Arroyo Seco.

"When the school punishes a child for doing the right thing in going to his
parents, they are sending the wrong message," his mother said. "Children who
expose these types of problems should be congratulated, not punished."

The suspension took effect last Monday and was completed on Friday.

Over the weekend, the Hagens received a letter from the William S. Hart
Union High School District informing them that their son was being
transferred immediately to another junior high school.

Hagen said, "Now that I got in all of this trouble for doing something good,
next time I know about something like this, I'll think twice about telling,
because I'll be afraid of getting in trouble again."

An angry Allred told reporters today, "No hearing was provided to Tyler at
which he could defend himself and contest the school's decision."

Allred added, "Some of the school authorities have overreacted and now
appear defensive as they try to justify what appears to be a trampling of
Tyler's legal rights."

She told reporters that principals and vice principals should not usurp a
parental role or attempt to pretend that the only significant role is that
of a principal, not a parent.

The School's annual notification to parents warns that unlawful possession
of a controlled substance by a student warrants consideration for suspension.

However, under California law, possession of marijuana is not unlawful for
the purpose of abandonment, disposal or destruction.

Meanwhile, in a statement released by the Sheriff's Department, deputies say
they have concluded their investigation and have determined that the initial
story from the teenage boys involved in the incident could not be supported
by the facts.

Sheriff's spokesman Lt. Tim Peters said the department will ask that charges
be filed against four boys - including Hagen, the boy who gave him the
marijuana and two others who allegedly acquired it - in juvenile court for
sale and possession of a controlled substance on school grounds.

Allred said it was unprecedented that the department would issue a release
announcing that they are planning to seek criminal charges against
identifiable minors for possession of marijuana.

The Hagen family and Allred were expected to attend a school board meeting
tonight to request the right to address the panel on this issue and explain
why their decision was unjustified and should be reversed.