PALMETTO BAY, Fla. – A 17-year-old who is accused of threatening to kill a classmate and bringing a knife to Palmer Trinity School in Palmetto Bay appeared in court Tuesday morning.
Daniel Villacampa's parents were by his side, his mother holding his hand, as a judge ordered him not to have contact with the victim.
Judge Maria de Jesus Santovenia also told Villacampa that he is allowed to leave home only to go to school and church.
Villacampa, who is a junior at the private school, is accused of sending a text message to a classmate, threatening to shoot and stab the student in the neck.
"You shall have no contact whatsoever with the listed victim in this case. That includes contact by person, by telephone. You can't send messages through another individual," de Jesus Santovenia said.
Police found out about the alleged threat after a student told a parent, who contacted police.
Detectives said they searched Villacampa's bookbag and found a 4-inch pocketknife.
According to a police report, Villacampa told authorities: "I carry it all the time, but never pull it out."
"We're looking forward to our day in court," defense attorney Curt Obront said.
Villacampa and his parents declined to comment to Local 10 News. But his lawyer is coming to his defense.
"He has never had any problems with the law, any disciplinary problems with school, any suspensions. His background, I can say, is impeccable," Obront said.
The private school student is charged with aggravated assault and possession of a deadly weapon on school property.
"He's not going to continue at this school that he was at. He's going to go to another school," Obront said.
Villacampa's attorney questioned his client's charges, saying that Villacampa never displayed the knife in his bookbag and suggested that an anonymous tip shouldn't be cause for an investigation.
The judge, however, ruled that there was probable cause to arrest him.