Teen Pleads Not Guilty in Fontana Hazing Case
Francisco Salgado had an outburst in court on Thursday and had to be restrained
Craig Fiegener
Fernando Salgado broke down and had to be restrained after he was ordered to stay in jail until a July 9 bail hearing in connection with a hazing incident at AB Miller High School. The 18-year-old pleaded not guilty to charges including assault and child cruelty. Craig Fiegener reports from San Bernardino for the NBC4 News at 5 p.m. on June 28, 2012.
Ordered to remain in jail until a July 9 bail hearing in connection with a hazing incident at AB Miller High School, Fernando Salgado lashed out at the bailiff and had to be restrained.
Salgado, 18, pleaded not guilty to four charges including assault, child cruelty, and attempted penetration by foreign object in connection with a hazing incident during summer school at the Fontana school.
He doubled over in tears and was restrained by deputies during the hearing at the Fontana branch of San Bernardino Superior Court. He was held on $300,000 bail.
"Things got pretty dramatic in court," said San Bernardino County District Attorney spokesman Christopher Lee. "Deputies had to restrain him."
Salgado was one of five people arrested in the incident, including teacher Emmanuel De La Rosa, 27, who is accused of possibly directing an assault on another student for behavioral issues, police said.
The three other accused students' names are not being released because they are minors.
An affidavit to the court described a scene in which three boys held down a victim while Salgado attempted to penetrate him with a piece of steel rebar, the Riverside Press-Enterprise reported.
Another victim then came forward and said a similar incident had occurred involving a wooden broom handle, the paper reported, citing the affidavit.
De La Rosa was booked into the San Bernardino County Jail on suspicion of child cruelty charges and released on bond Sunday. He's expected to appear in court in August.
Students were shocked at the news and some defended the masonry teacher, saying he wouldn't do such a thing.
Salgado's family, who erupted emotionally at the Thursday hearing, defended him.
"Please, come and support Nando, because he is not that person," said family friend Magdalena Acosta.
They said they would try to raise funds to post bail for Salgado.
NBC4's Rosa Ordaz contributed to this report.
Clarification: An earlier version of this story reported that the suspect was charged with attempted sodomy. The story has been changed to reflect the official charge: "attempted penetration by foreign object."
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