Substitute teacher in California high school outburst also brought weapon to campus, authorities say

A substitute teacher who was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of criminally threatening students in a math class at Aliso Viejo High School later was found to have brought a weapon to the school, authorities said.

Sgt. Todd Hylton, Orange County Sheriff’s spokesman, would not say what type of weapon was discovered, but said it was found on campus, after the threats were made, and belonged to the substitute teacher, James Setterholm, 69.

Setterholm has worked as a substitute with the Capistrano Unified School District since 2012, according to district spokesperson Ryan Burris.

The statements that Setterholm made in the classroom – police would not confirm what they were – prompted a lockdown at the school.

The school district declined to say if any complaints had been lodged against Setterholm in the past, saying they do not discuss personnel matters.

In a video on Wednesday, Setterholm appears to be yelling at students from inside a math classroom, as CBS Los Angeles reported.

Setterholm, a Laguna Beach resident, was booked on suspicion of making criminal threats and possessing a weapon on school grounds. He was being held at the Theo Lacy jail as of Thursday evening. His bail was set at $50,000.

No injuries occurred at the school, Hylton said.

Michael Suydam, the father of two Aliso Niguel High School students, said his 17-year-old daughter texted him after the school went into lockdown while she was in the library. Suydam’s 14-year-old daughter was in another classroom at the time of the lockdown; neither had seen Setterholm prior to the incident.

“We are confident the district has a system to vet (substitute teachers), but this is concerning,” Suydam said.

In an email to parents, Aliso Niguel principal Michael Hatcher said multiple units “swept the school out of an abundance of caution.” Nothing suspicious was located on school grounds and “the threat was neutralized.”  School continued as usual for the rest of the day, Suydam said.

Substitute teachers with the Capistrano Unified School District are required to go through an “in-depth background check,” training, and orientations, Burris said, adding that Setterholm will not be employed by the district moving forward.

“We are currently reviewing our process to identify any improvements that can be made,” Burris said of the district’s substitute teacher hiring practices.