California man waives preliminary hearing
CENTERVILLE – A man who has been ordered several times to stay away from California Area School District property Thursday waived to court a hearing for criminal trespassing for going on school district property. Carl Marshall, 54, of 695 Green St., California, was released on his own recognizance Thursday by Magisterial District Judge William Pelkey after he once again agreed to have no contact with the school district or go anywhere near district property.
Marshall has twice been placed in the Washington County Jail in connection with incidents on school property since December. The first arrest came after Marshall bound himself with duct tape near the school driveway Dec. 14 as students were arriving, alarming parents and students. He was cited for disorderly conduct in that incident. A few days later Marshall attempted to hand out flyers in the driveway in protest of a district Christmas display Marshall contended promoted war. He was charged with disorderly conduct and criminal trespassing and placed in the county jail when he told Magisterial District Judge Larry Hopkins that he couldn’t promise to stay away from the schools.
Marshall was released following a preliminary hearing Dec. 28, but he was jailed again after returning to the district and becoming verbally abusive to principals and the superintendent. Marshall was again jailed. Judge Paul Pozonsky most recently released him from the county jail Jan. 18 with the condition that he stay away from the district property and personnel and that he receive a psychological/mental health evaluation. On Jan. 24 school security cameras showed Marshall once again on the school grounds in the evening. Marshall told police he thought there was a school board meeting that night.
Marshall Thursday signed the form at Pelkey’s office spelling out the conditions of his release: “Defendant is to have no contact whatsoever with the California Area School District. Defendant is not to be anywhere near or on the school property for any given reason,” the condition states.
Dr. R. Tim Marks, district superintendent, said the ongoing incidents with Marshall have emphasized the need for all district employees to closely adhere to security measures in place in the schools, including keeping all doors locked throughout the school day.
Marks said there is video surveillance 24 hours a day inside the high school and additional security cameras are in the district’s five-year building and grounds plan. He said the district officials might also be reconsidering the need for an on-campus school security officer.
“It’s something we’re going to be talking about. It’s come up before,” Marks said.
Marshall, who has four children in the district, raised the need for a school security officer himself at the October school board meeting.
Marks said arrangements have been made for special security coverage for evening events and meetings in the district. Additional security measures are also being taken, Marks said.
“One of the things we do when we are doing security is keep it confidential so the suspect doesn’t know what we’re doing,” Marks said.