There was no one dressed up as a clown outside a fence at Nile Garden School on Thursday as was reported in Friday’s edition of the Bulletin
San Joaquin County Sheriff deputies were summoned at 10:19 a.m. by administrators after a student reported seeing a clown and provided them with a photo that appeared to be a clown outside of the fence on the east side of the rural campus south of Manteca. Deputies were shown the photo while the school went into what officials described as a “soft lockdown.” Deputies checked the area and surrounding orchards but determined no one had been in the area shown in the photo for several days, according to Sheriff’s spokesman Deputy Les Garcia.
Deputies then examined the photo more closely. They also checked the student’s school-issued tablet.
It was found that a paint/Photoshop program was open.  It also revealed a photo of a clown that was downloaded from an Internet search and a photo of the school grounds as well.  The photos matched that of the photo of the clown that the student initially reported to and showed school staffers.
Deputy Garcia said the student admitted to doctoring the photo and making up the story about the clown.
The student was cited for a misdemeanor violation of the state Education Code and released to his mother.
He was also suspended for the incident.   

To contact Glenn Kahl, email gkahl@mantecabulletin.com.