Bradley Netwal

In this photo released by the Brown County Jail, Bradley P. Netwal is shown in this Friday, Sept. 15, 2006, booking photo in Green Bay, Wis.(AP Photo/Brown County Jail)

The third person arrested in the Green Bay East High School plot has been named.

From the Associated Press:

Police have arrested a third person in a foiled Columbine-style plan to bomb and shoot students at a high school, investigators said Saturday.

...Bradley P. Netwal, 18, was arrested Friday on suspicion of conspiracy to commit homicide and conspiracy to commit arson, according to a police department news release Saturday.

Police learned from interviews that Netwal, a former student at the school and a friend of the 17-year-olds, participated in the planning, police said.

Court Commissioner Jane Sequin ordered [William] Cornell and [Shawn] Sturtz jailed on $500,000 bond Friday, and the three were being held in the Brown County jail. Netwal was scheduled to make an initial court appearance Monday.

...East High School Principal Ed Dorff said Saturday he was not surprised by the third arrest.

"I don't know how much deeper this goes," he said. "We knew there was contact with others. We didn't know the level of contact."

I think it's strange that Netwal would be an active participant in the plot because he no longer goes to East High School. The "victim going off the deep end" excuse doesn't fly with him. In his case, it doesn't even get off the ground.

Since the plan was in the works for years, it's possible that Netwal got involved when he was at the school and he didn't want to let go of it.

Still, once he left, I would think his desire to bomb the place would subside.

Dorff's comment makes it sound like there could be more arrests to come. Stay tuned...

In addition to Netwal's arrest, there was more news from Green Bay.

The mother of Shawn Sturtz spoke out on Saturday, telling AP that her son and Cornell were victimized by bullies at East High School.

Elizabeth Sturtz, 48, said her 300-pound son who has a learning disability was often bullied and that she understands how he could have been angry. But she said she saw no signs that he would plot such an attack.

"I'm glad they are in jail and I am not going to their funerals. I am sorry they are there," she said. "I am grateful for the kid who came forward."

I don't feel justified in criticizing this mom too harshly because I don't know her specific circumstances, but she does sound like she was struggling as a parent.

What was happening in her life that she missed the signs that her son was so desperate and so depressed FOR YEARS?

Why didn't she do something if her son was being bullied mercilessly?

How do you not see any signs when your child has been plotting another Columbine FOR YEARS?

If your child is being seriously bullied, meaning that it's affecting the child's health and well-being, you have to deal with it. You're negligent as a parent if you don't. Go to the school and talk to faculty and staff. Demand that the issue be addressed. Empower your child.

Follow Rudy Giuliani's advice: STAND UP TO BULLIES.

Parents have to talk to their kids. If they discover a serious problem, they need to take action. Switch schools if necessary.

Superintendent Daniel Nerad said that he didn't know the specifics of the teen's situation but that the school district has made stopping bullying a priority and has a strong stance against it.

***CYA ALERT***CYA ALERT***CYA ALERT***

They all say that whenever a plan like this is uncovered. The issue of bullying always seems to come up. Then comes the predictable response. School officials insist that they have a tough policy when it comes to bullying, zero tolerance, etc.

That's just talk.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has more from Elizabeth Sturtz.

Sturtz's mother told The Associated Press that her son has been bullied at school.

Elizabeth Sturtz, 48, the mother of 17-year-old Shawn Sturtz, said bullies often called her 300-pound son, who had a learning disability, fat and stupid.

..."They were pushed to the limit. They couldn't handle it anymore," the mother said during an interview in her home on Saturday.

If she knew that her son and his friend were being "pushed to the limit," why didn't she do something about it?

I really don't understand that.

Again, if Green Bay East High School was such an unhealthy environment for her son, why would she allow him to stay there?

No kid should be treated so cruelly and subjected to that kind of punishment day in and day out.

AND--

Under NO circumstances should a kid amass weapons, build bombs, and plan to commit murder and detonate explosives in his school.

As in so many other situations, this all boils down to personal responsibility and doing what's right.

--Students should not bully others.

--Victims of bullying must seek help from their parents and teachers.

--Parents need to know what's going on in their children's lives.

--Teachers and school staff need to address instances of bullying, and punish the perpetrators.

--No student should ever acquire weapons, plot to kill people and destroy property.

--Each is person is responsible for his or her actions.