Update: The case against Stowell was exonerated Dec. 16 to Clark County District Court, court records show.
An 18-year-old man is accused of threatening to return to Heritage High School with a gun after confronting students who had apparently been in a fight with his sister.
Jesse James Stowell, no city of residence listed, appeared Wednesday in Clark County Superior Court on suspicion of first-degree assault, threats to bomb or injure property, and second-degree criminal trespass. At the request of prosecutors, Judge Jennifer Snider also found probable cause for a charge of felony harassment.
His bail was set at $10,000, and he is scheduled to be arraigned Dec. 28.
Deputy Prosecutor Julie Carmena said Stowell has a pending charge of fourth-degree assault in Clark County District Court. Defense attorney Megan Peyton said Stowell is still on probation for a juvenile case.
Clark County sheriff’s deputies responded at 2:20 p.m. Tuesday for reports of a shooting threat at the high school, 7825 N.E. 130th Ave.
Deputies learned that a few hours earlier, Stowell came to the school and made threats to shoot the students who were involved in a fight with his sister the day before. School officials confirmed a large fight occurred between Stowell’s sister and a group of girls and a boy, according to a probable cause affidavit.
School officials also told deputies Stowell has not been a student there since April 2020 and was trespassed from the school, the affidavit states.
Investigators obtained video that showed Stowell at the school Tuesday, according to court records.
With the help of school officials, deputies located Stowell about a half-mile away at a store on Northeast 117th Avenue, according to the affidavit. Investigators said Stowell was wearing the same clothes seen in the video.
When deputies talked with Stowell, they said he initially denied being at the school, until they told him they had video of him there. They said he denied making any threats but confirmed his sister was in a fight the day before, court records state.
A student told deputies Stowell said he could easily go get a gun and come back. He said Stowell threatened to shoot the students who were involved in the fight, the affidavit states.
Deputies subsequently arrested Stowell and booked him into the Clark County Jail.
