CASTLE ROCK — A judge ruled Wednesday that arrest documents will remain sealed in the case of one of two 16-year-olds accused in a .
The records could have provided the first real glimpse at what authorities say were plans to inflict mass casualties at Mountain Vista High School in the days before Christmas break. Authorities have said the duo took substantial steps in their plans but have not elaborated.
District Judge Paul King heard arguments over the documents for roughly an hour before ruling their release could infringe the rights of Sienna Johnson, who was as an adult.
She faces two felony counts of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder.
King said the status of Johnson’s case could change after a March hearing on whether it should remain in adult court. He said since juvenile court records must be sealed, it would be “premature” to let the public see arrest documents in the case before the hearing.
“This is a difficult issue the court has to resolve,” King said, likening a records release to a bell that cannot be unrung.
The other accused teen is set to learn Thursday morning whether she will face charges in the case and whether those charges will be in adult or juvenile court.
“That decision is still being finalized,” prosecutor Jason Siers said after the hearing over the records.
Authorities say Johnson and her alleged conspirator made detailed maps of Mountain Vista that included locations of specific community members, including deputies assigned to protect the campus.
According to prosecutors, Johnson referenced the movie “Natural Born Killers” in her journal.
“Everyone at the school at the date this was set to be carried out was a potential victim,” Siers said.
Johnson’s public defender, Ara Ohanian, said in court last week authorities have “grossly exaggerated” the case against his client. Ohanian on Wednesday said he is seeking a gag order to bar those involved with the case from talking to the media.
Ohanian also told the court he intends to block public access to further hearings in Johnson’s case even though such a request was denied Wednesday.
Prosecutors say the charges Johnson face are appropriate and asked that the public wait for details of the allegations to come out before passing judgement on the severity of the charges handed down.
Johnson is being held in lieu of $1 million bail while her alleged accomplice is being held without bail.
The Denver Post does not typically name juvenile defendants unless they are charged as an adult.
Authorities say the girls’ scheme was foiled in December days before it was supposed to be carried out after the county sheriff’s office was tipped off .
On Tuesday, the lawyer for the yet-to-be-charged teen , characterizing the two as grossly different.
“We understand the need for prosecutors and law enforcement to be vigilant in cases such as these,” the attorney, Dagny Van Der Jagt, said in a statement. “It is our hope, after weeks of investigation, that prosecutors recognize the different sets of facts in these two cases and evaluate my client’s circumstances accordingly.”
Jesse Paul: 303-954-1733, jpaul@denverpost.com or @JesseAPaul
