Criminal Charges Possible in School Redhead Attacks

Calabasas - Three boys were arrested and facing potential criminal charges on Monday in connection with bullying attacks directed against redheaded students at a Calabasas junior high school.

The three -- a 13-year-old and two 12-year-olds -- were "detained and booked" last week for misdemeanors, and were released to the custody of their parents, said Steve Whitmore of the sheriff's department. Their names were withheld.

The older boy was detained and booked on suspicion of "threatening to inflict injury by means of electronic communication -- commonly known as cyber bullying," Whitmore said. The younger boys were detained and booked on suspicion of "battery on school property," Whitmore said.

All three are students at A.E. Wright Middle School, where the attacks occurred, Whitmore said. Their first court appearance was pending at Sylmar Juvenile Hall, Whitmore said.

The attacks are believed to have been motivated by "Kick a Ginger Day," an Internet spoof inspired by an episode of the "South Park" animated television series. The term "ginger" comes from an episode first aired in 2005 that satirized racial intolerance but never referred to "Kick A Ginger Day."

"Kick A Ginger Day" began last year when some young people circulated messages on the Internet urging people to beat up redheads.

At an afternoon news conference, Las Virgenes School District Superintendent Donald Zimring confirmed that the bullying attacks were indeed inspired by the "South Park" series.

But he also defended the school, saying the incident "had created a lot of questions and rumors" that had made "a really terrific school a target for a lot of people."

The school has 926 "really terrific children" with a handful who did "a dumb thing," he said.

He said the children had not intended to do anything "hateful," but did something "they thought was funny at the time."

The superintendent said no one suffered any broken legs, as had been originally reported about the attacks, but three people were kicked.

"That doesn't make it insignificant, but it didn't rise to having a broke arm or a beating," Zimring said.

"We had some kids who made a very poor decision. They thought they were playacting, or just having a joke. These youngsters did not understand the ramifications or the consequences."

The attacks occurred Nov. 20 at the school at 4029 Las Virgenes Road, said sheriff's Lt. Scott Chew of the Malibu-Lost Hills Station.

The first reported victim was a 12-year-old boy in the seventh grade, Chew said.

At least five students were victimized, added Sgt. Fray Lupian.