J.D. Buonantony 17-year-old was quarterback of Palo Verde's team Robert Funk 16-year-old arrested after four-month investigation Travis Skochenko 17-year-old missed Palo Verde's playoff game against Galena Ryan Patterson Teen's credit card was used to buy parts in firebombs, prosecutor says Rashan Lawrence 16-year-old spent Thanksgiving weekend in juvenile facility

Stripped of their dreams of football glory and the comforts of home, five Palo Verde High School students charged with multiple counts of arson stood before Judge William Voy on Monday and asked to be released from the Clark County Juvenile Detention Center.

Defense attorneys for J.D. Buonantony, 17, Travis Skochenko, 17, Ryan Patterson, 16, Rashan Lawrence, 16, and Robert Funk, 16, argued that their clients had already spent a prolonged amount of time in detention. The juveniles, all juniors, were arrested Wednesday afternoon in connection with three August incidents in which Molotov cocktails were lobbed at two portable classrooms at Faith Lutheran Junior/Senior High School, inflicting minor damage. All five teenagers spent the Thanksgiving holiday in lockup because the courts were closed for a four-day weekend.

"I understand that the charge is a serious one," said Buonantony's attorney, Joseph Sciscento. "But the damage, the alleged damage, is not that great. I think we can place him on home confinement."

Sciscento added that his client, Palo Verde's star quarterback, was in custody on Saturday and missed the school's Class 4A state semifinal against Galena High School, a game that ended in a 35-0 defeat for the Panthers. The team also was handicapped by the absence of Skochenko, Patterson and Lawrence, all varsity players.

Deputy District Attorney Phil Brown argued against release, at least until a risk assessment of each juvenile could be performed.

"Four acts of first-degree arson are charged," Brown said, adding that additional charges involving other arson incidents and the manufacture of incendiary devices might be filed in the future. "This wasn't just one event. We have Faith-Lutheran targeted multiple times. They hit the Trails Park in Summerlin as well."

Brown said that Patterson's credit card was used to purchase firebomb materials, including the Yoo Hoo and Martinelli drink bottles used as containers for the flammable liquids.

"We are fortunate that the damage wasn't greater," Brown said. "But I don't think that's something we should give them the benefit of."

Voy ordered all five juveniles to remain in custody until risk assessments can be presented to the court later this week.

Those reports, which will include interviews with family members, will look at whether the individuals pose a further danger to the community and whether they have the proper supervision to support a program of house arrest and electronic surveillance.

Voy also emphasized the seriousness of the charges and the multiple acts of arson alleged.

"They went back several times," Voy said. "To repeatedly go back to the same location and try to get it right -- what were they trying to do?"

The teenagers, dressed in detention center orange with their hands shackled at their waists, remained mostly silent during their hearings. All the juveniles except Lawrence were accompanied in court by their parents. When asked by Voy where his parents were, Lawrence explained that he had contacted his father, who did not appear at Monday's hearing.

Instead, Buonantony's parents stood by Lawrence's side and were appointed by Voy to act as guardians ad litem for the duration of the court proceedings. Lawrence and Buonantony are the only two juveniles facing all four arson charges.

"These are five good boys," Rich Buonantony said of his son J.D. and his four friends after the hearing. "I'll tell you that right now."

Rich Buonantony is a former strip club manager for Michael Galardi, who admitted bribing politicians in Las Vegas and San Diego to protect his clubs. Galardi now awaits sentencing on political corruption charges.

Defense Attorney Steve Stein, who appeared on behalf of Lawrence and Skochenko, unsuccessfully sought to have the court proceeding closed to media, saying that coverage might have undue influence on elected officials such as District Attorney David Roger, who will soon decide whether to pursue having the juveniles tried as adults. Stein also said coverage might have a negative effect on the potential jury pool, should the case go to trial.

"It is what it is," Voy said, reminding Stein that juvenile court proceedings are open to the public.

The impact of the arson charges might have a profound effect on the five juveniles beyond the courtroom. In addition to any punishment they receive from the courts, the five may also have to look to education alternatives.

The teenagers already have been suspended from Palo Verde and face the possibility of expulsion. Edward Goldman, Clark County School District's associate superintendent of education services, said that in cases of expulsion, students are generally not permitted to return to their home school.

If that is the case for these five students, Palo Verde's football team will lose four varsity players.

"In all probability, they won't be allowed to return to their home school if they are expelled," Goldman said.

The arrests were the result of a four-month investigation by the Clark County Fire Department and the Las Vegas field office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Bob Leinbach, spokesman for the fire department, said Monday that the charges center on three incidents that took place on Aug. 23 and 24. On three different occasions, Leinbach said, investigators found the remnants of several Molotov cocktails that had been flung at portable classrooms on Faith Lutheran's campus.

More arrests might be made in the case, but had not taken place as of Monday afternoon. Motive for the arson attempts have not been made public. Multiple sources did indicate that Buonantony had attended middle school at Faith Lutheran.

When asked about why the juveniles were throwing firebombs at the private school, Leinbach said that had not been made clear in the interviews with the teenagers.

"That's a question we don't have the answer to," Leinbach said.

Kevin Dunning, executive director of Faith Lutheran, declined to comment on specific individuals arrested on arson charges, but said he was grateful that the fire department and ATF agents had persevered in the investigation.

The scorched portables have been repaired and Dunning said he didn't believe the intention of the crimes was to injure anyone seriously.

"I think kids are greatly affected by peer pressure in their decisions," Dunning said. "One or two can influence others into actions with fairly serious consequences."

Palo Verde Principal Dan Phillips refused to comment for this story.

Some Palo Verde students, who returned to school after a four-day weekend, said they were shocked by the arrests.

"They were good kids," said sophomore Geno Ferrigno. "I didn't think they would do something like that."

Ferrigno said he knows three of the students accused of arson, but wouldn't name them. Ferrigno, who attended Faith Lutheran as a freshman, said there is a rivalry between the two schools.

Brandon Murray, a Palo Verde senior, said it's a shame that some of the students involved will probably lose scholarship opportunities because of the arson charges.

"They were good athletes," Murray said. "There was no reason for them to do anything like that."

Review-Journal writer Antonio Planas contributed to this report