Moreno Valley Truancy Sweep Nets 66 Students

MORENO VALLEY (CBS) — More than five-dozen students enrolled in Moreno Valley schools were caught ditching class and slapped with citations ranging from $100 to $500 during a truancy sweep, officials said Friday.

Riverside County sheriff's deputies, probation officers and officials from the Moreno Valley and Val Verde school districts conducted the sweep between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. Thursday, according to sheriff's Sgt. Melvin Rasmussen.

He said the operation involved roving the streets looking for juveniles who failed to show up for school without a parental excuse or who left their campuses without permission.

The city of Moreno Valley's Daytime Curfew & Loitering Ordinance prohibits youngsters from being out in public places, with only a few exceptions, while school is in session.

Rasmussen said 66 truants were found and "transported back to their assigned school for disciplinary proceedings."

The violators were also issued city administrative citations. First-time offenders received $100 tickets, second-time offenders, $200, and third-time offenders, $500, according to Rasmussen.

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