Ex-LAUSD Officer Could Face $300K Payment For Faked School Shooting
LOS ANGELES (CBS) — A former police officer for the Los Angeles Unified school district in prison for staging a faked shooting last year may have to reimburse the county for the hoax.
KNX 1070's Pete Demetriou reports Jeffrey Stenroos could end up owing a six-figure balance -- even if it's unclear whether he can pay any of it back.
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The total costs to agencies including the LAPD, LAFD and the LAUSD could be as high as $300,000 for emergency efforts expended in the January 2011 search for a shooter who never existed, according to attorney Tim Murphy.
But Murphy remained skeptical that Stenroos — who continues to serve out a two-year sentence in county jail — has the finances to satisfy any potential judgment.
"He's now a convicted felon, he's in jail, he's got nothing at the moment, so how he can afford to pay, how much he can afford to pay is going to be a question for the future," said Murphy.
A criminal restitution hearing is scheduled for Feb. 16, at which point the district attorney's office is expected to settle upon a final payment amount.
"That's what we're working on right now, we're trying to talk to those folks and figure out how they calculated the numbers and what makes sense," Murphy said .
Stenroos or his wife may have some assets liquidated depending on whether the judge in the case will order the entire amount be paid or instead order a compromise settlement to be paid over time.
