SAN ANTONIO – An SAISD student, accused of plotting an attack at Rhodes Middle School, attended two court hearings on Thursday, where the proceedings focused on his detention status and media access.
Last week, the student showed up to the Rhodes Middle School campus “wearing a mask, camouflage jacket and tactical pants but left shortly after,” police said.
The student was later found off-campus and charged with terrorism, according to school officials, who sent parents a letter.
The student’s mother, Ashley Pardo, was also arrested and charged after allegedly buying ammunition, magazines and tactical gear for her son.
During a hearing on Thursday, the teen’s attorneys filed motions to restrict media access, arguing that the extensive media coverage and the teen’s age entitled him to closed hearings.
Judge William Cruz Shaw denied the motion based on public transparency but ruled that the teen’s identity and face should not be shown due to his juvenile status.
The teen was brought into the courtroom in handcuffs, displaying little emotion. He expressed a desire to be released from custody into his grandmother’s care, but the judge did not recommend it.
Shaw ordered that he remain in custody and scheduled another detention hearing for the morning of June 5.
According to court records, the teen was also previously charged in an arson case, which ended in a mistrial.
The Fourth Court of Appeals heard the case this morning and will later decide whether to uphold the court’s decision, which could prevent him from being retried on that charge.
Meanwhile, Pardo is out on bond and has a bond modification hearing scheduled for the end of the month.
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