By Mary O’KEEFE

The man who in February 2023 trespassed onto the campus of Crescenta Valley High School and caused the school’s lockdown is still confined at the Pitchess Detention Center under the Dept. of Mental Health.

Brandon Santora, 41, of Torrance entered the school early in the morning on Feb. 1 as students were arriving. Santora walked the hallways of the school, carrying a duffle bag. He spoke to students and teachers. Because his presence was discovered during early morning school hours when the school is very busy with students, staff and authorized visiting personnel it was not immediately known if he was a visiting speaker at one of the classes. After it was determined he did not belong on campus, the administration and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Dept. decided in an abundance of caution to activate a lockdown. The suspect had left the campus prior to the lockdown but that was not known by staff at the time. The lockdown allowed law enforcement to search the school for any trespasser.

Santora’s description was released and he was taken into custody at a nearby business. He was booked at CV Sheriff’s Station for trespassing, a misdemeanor, and later released. He was taken into custody two days later on unrelated crimes in Glendale. He was charged with one count of possession of child (individual under the age of 18) pornography and a second count of criminal threats.

He had several court dates, which he did not attend due to mental issues.

Santora has yet to be sentenced. He is in maximum confinement with a release date of July 3, 2025, according to a spokesperson with the office of LA County District Attorney.