Teens arrested in cyber bullying

MARBLE FALLS, Texas (KXAN) - An upcoming football game left a Dripping Springs football player bombarded with a series of text messages that have landed six Marble Falls teens in trouble with the law.

Benjamin Causgrove, Donald Holland, Garrett Reitz, Zach Wagner and Jacob Wieweck, all age 17, along with another minor are charged with harassment via telephone, a misdemeanor.

"We got a hold of the student, got copies of the text messages which were obscene, vulgar, threatening to some degree," said Lt. Leroy Opiela with the Hays County Sheriff's Office . 

The messages contained homosexual slurs and profanities.

An arrest warrant shows one message said, "You better be prepared to get ripped limb from to ******* limb Friday night you big *****."

Another read, "Oh, so you are going to be a little ***** and not text back *****?"

Opiela said the Dripping Springs football player found those messages on his phone and told his parents.

An upcoming football game between the Marble Falls Mustangs and Dripping Springs Tigers was apparently behind the messages.

"The young man felt threatened by these messages," Opiela explained. "The letter of the law is on his side."

Arrest warrants were issued for the teens on Oct. 18.

Phone calls made to the teens in question were not returned to KXAN News.

Criminal defense attorney Eddie Shell, who is representing the teens, did release the following statement on the behalf of his clients:

"All of the young adults that have been arrested in regard to this matter are good kids, good students and have made great contributions to their school," said Shell.  "I have not had the opportunity to look at any of the evidence in these cases and do not even know if an offense has been committed. The parents of these young men have all been very cooperative in regard to cautioning their child not to make any contact with the Dripping Springs players or personnel."

Officials at Marbles Falls High School were unable to speak on camera, but said the accused students were handled according to conduct code.

The school is now hosting a cyber bullying and cyber texting awareness meeting on Nov. 8 for area schools and parents.

"People need to understand that when you do that, we can find out what phone number you are texting from," Opiela said.

Opiela said this is the first case of cyber bullying they've encountered and plan on seeing the case through.

If convicted, the teens could face up to six months in prison and a fine.

The Dripping Springs player and his family declined to comment.