Parents: 2nd suspect was railroaded

MONTROSE — The parents of a second youth being held in connection with Tuesday's knife attack at Montrose High said their son only learned of the incident after the fact.

"We're in shock," the boy's parents told the Daily Press after court this afternoon.

The Daily Press does not usually publish the names of juvenile suspects unless they are charged as adults or with felonies that make their records releasable.

The boy, 14, is being held at Grand Mesa Youth Services on allegations of conspiracy to commit murder. He was arrested last night. Neither he nor the alleged slasher, also 14, have been formally charged.

The second suspect's mother said her son was friends with the boy who allegedly attacked 17-year-old Mallory Haulman as she entered school with her sister Tuesday. However, her son had not seen the suspect for months. She said her son encountered the suspect, who invited him to "ditch" with him.

But then, the woman said, the suspect boasted of having "stabbed a girl." Her son said he didn't believe him, but then was shown a knife and became alarmed.

"It's like guilt by association," the second suspect's father said. "That's how it feels."

The parents said the police had "badgered" their son during interrogation, refusing to believe him when he said he hadn't helped plan the attack, nor provided the weapon used.

And, they said, when they declined to come in for a second interview because they wanted a lawyer, the police then arrested their son.

Police have not commented on their reasons for arresting the boy.

In court Monday, his parents disagreed with District Attorney Myrl Serra, who said they didn't supervise their son well enough, and who characterized him as a danger to the community.

They wanted the boy to be allowed to come home. However, Judge Jeff Herron said there was reason to continue holding him at Grand Mesa.

Having made the determination on detention, Herron then gave the DA 72 hours to file a juvenile petition for charges. Serra successfully obtained an extension until Friday, Nov. 21, saying he needed to weigh carefully whether to charge the boy as an adult.

"He's 14 years old and now they want to try him as an adult," his mother said after court. "What happened to that little girl was horrible." She said if her son was responsible for the attack, he should be punished, but he wasn't guilty.