STUDENT ALLEGEDLY ATTACKED TEACHER

EUREKA -- A Zoe Barnum student was released from Juvenile Hall to
home custody Tuesday after he allegedly assaulted a teacher last
month over a marijuana necklace.

Deputy Humboldt County District Attorney Stacey Eads wrote in an
e-mail that the boy, whose name has not been released, has been
charged with felony battery on a school teacher causing injury and
assault by means of force likely to cause great bodily injury with an
enhancement of causing great bodily injury to the victim.

The charges were filed May 2.

Eads wrote, based on initial reports, that on April 28 the boy put
the male teacher in a headlock, pinned him against the wall, swept
the teachers feet from under him, knocking the teacher to the floor.
The boy continued to punch the teacher until another student and
another teacher were able to pull him off.

The teacher suffered from a dislocated shoulder and the student left campus.

The motive for the attack was the teacher confiscating a necklace
with a marijuana leaf pendant on it. The student was reportedly
warned several times not to wear the necklace in a way where others
could see it.

"The actual attack occurred when the teacher was initially attempting
to return the necklace to the student," Eads wrote.

The case has been set for trial.

"The incident is being investigated by law enforcement," said Eureka
City Schools Director of School and Community Relations Sheldon Reber
in an e-mail. "To protect the confidentiality of the people involved
we can't say anything more about the incident."