An 18-year-old autistic teenager, Sebastian Villaseñor, has been ordered to stand trial on five counts of attempted murder after allegedly planning a school shooting at Ontario Christian High School in Ontario, California. The decision was made by Superior Court Judge Shannon L. Faherty following a two-day preliminary hearing.
During the hearing, it was revealed that Villaseñor had engaged in a series of concerning behaviors, including posing for selfies with his father’s rifles, extensively watching videos about school shooters, and researching ammunition, body armor, and police response times. He had even ordered T-shirts similar to those worn by the perpetrators of the Columbine High School massacre in 1999.
When questioned by Ontario police about his plans, Villaseñor detailed his thoughts on where he might park, where he might open fire, and how he might defend himself against the police. Although he sometimes claimed he hadn’t thought that far ahead, he provided explanations of what he might do if he were to carry out the attack.
Defense attorney Daniel DeLimon argued that Villaseñor had not taken any direct steps to carry out the plot and that the charges should be dismissed. However, San Bernardino County Deputy District Attorney Debbie Ploghaus countered this by presenting evidence of over 4,500 related searches, downloads, or texts found on Villaseñor’s computers. Ploghaus described Villaseñor’s actions as a “dress rehearsal” and argued that his extensive research constituted the direct step required by law to convict.
Judge Faherty agreed with the prosecution’s argument, ruling that Villaseñor’s thoughts were synonymous with plans. She ordered him to stand trial, expressing her belief that his plan would have come to fruition if his sister, Isabella Villaseñor, had not reported his behavior to a school counselor.
During the hearing, it was revealed that Isabella had witnessed her brother posing with their father’s rifles and noticed his obsession with school shooting videos. Isabella reported him to school counselor Mitch Stutz and principal Benjamin Dykhouse on February 8, allegedly as an act of retaliation following an argument they had that morning.
Although no expert testified that Villaseñor is autistic, his social awkwardness and intense focus on specific subjects were noted by school officials and his sister. The victims in this case were four girls who had snubbed Villaseñor and a boy who was dating a girl that repeatedly rejected Villaseñor’s requests for dates.
The attempted criminal threat charge against Villaseñor, with Isabella listed as the victim, was dropped without explanation. The reasons behind this decision remain unclear.
2 Responses
This is absolutely outrageous and deeply disturbing! How can an 18-year-old autistic teenager be charged with attempted murder for allegedly planning a school shooting? Instead of providing him with the support and resources he needs, they are throwing him into the criminal justice system.
Autism is a complex neurological condition that affects individuals in different ways. It is not a justification for criminal behavior, but it should be a call for understanding, compassion, and appropriate intervention. Instead of demonizing this young man, we should be
Did you know that according to a study published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, individuals with autism are no more likely to commit violent crimes than those without autism? It is important to remember that autism does not inherently predispose someone to violence, and cases like Sebastian Villaseñor’s are extremely rare.