EDINBURG — A 17-year-old Alamo teen accused of plotting a school shooting with his co-defendant and two other juveniles failed to have his bond reduced Wednesday morning.
Barbarito Pantoja and co-defendant, Nathaniel Seth Montelongo, 17, are charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Pantoja appeared before state District Judge Joe Ramirez to have his $750,000 bond reduced. The judge admonished him and asked him to speak when he spoke softly or gestured in response to the judge’s questions.
His attorney explained to the judge that Pantoja doesn’t have a juvenile history and that guns weren’t found on his person or at his residence.
However, investigators did find an AK-47 and body armor at one of the juvenile’s residences, according to Donna city officials. An affidavit also indicates documents that detailed the planning and execution of the alleged mass shooting plan were found at Pantoja’s residence — a point prosecutors brought up during the Wednesday hearing.
In arguing against the bond reduction, the prosecutor went over the details of the case and said the bond should not be reduced for the safety of the community.
Pantoja’s attorney told the judge that his family doesn’t have the means to bail out their son, but Ramirez ultimately denied the request due to the details of the case. Pantojoa, however, will have the chance to reduce his bond in the near future, the judge said.
Pantoja’s mother and sister were seen crying outside the courtroom as his dad consoled them.
Donna police detective Sgt. Adrian Hooks was anonymously tipped off about the planned shooting and conducted an interview with Montelongo at Donna High School the following day.
Montelongo confirmed the legitimacy of the threat by implicating himself, detailing his role in the shooting which was planned to be executed on the last day of school, June 3, according to an arrest affidavit.
The Donna Independent School District Police Department detained Pantoja and transported him to the Donna Police Department where Hooks interviewed him, the affidavit said.
Pantoja confirmed Montelongo’s statement, implicating himself as he provided Hooks details on his role in the planned shooting in collaboration with Montelongo and two other juveniles, according to the affidavit.
Court records do not indicate that Montelongo has filed a similar request.
Both 17-year-olds remain held on a $750,000 bond at the Hidalgo County Adult Detention Center.
