Fresno mom may not face charges for confronting son's bully

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- A heartbreaking phone call no parent ever wants to get. Teri Johnson says her 12-year-old son called crying from a school bathroom because two bullies were teasing him again. "They did say a lot of hurtful things concerning his weight. Saying that he doesn't have friends because he ate them all, that he looks like an old man, he's a dirty rat," said Johnson.

The teasing, according to Johnson, happened over months by a 12-year-old and 13-year-old girl. But Johnson says the March 17th phone call was the last straw. By that time she says administrators hadn't stepped in so she decided to take matters into her own hands.

"As far as the criminal aspect, of course nobody wants this but if this gives any type of encouragement to the community and any children out there to stand up for themselves then I'm all for it," said Johnson.

That day Johnson, her family member Inez Hernandez and Brandon's 15-year-old half-sister were arrested. Police said several family members got into a verbal and physical argument with a school employee and the two girls. But after reviewing surveillance video, investigators believe Johnson and Hernandez might not be at fault.

"It's possible that there will be charges on other people not originally identified in the report," said Fresno Police Department Lt. Joe Gomez.

But not everyone in the family is in the clear. Brandon's 15-year-old half-sister might still be facing an assault charge.

"I stand behind my daughter one-hundred percent and I'm glad that she actually took that stand for her brother but it's sad that she's going to be charged with something. I think that's horrible," said Inez Hernandez, the mother of Brandon's 15-year-old half-sister.

Police said there were no visible injuries to the two young girls after the altercation. Detectives are still interviewing the almost 100 witnesses who saw the fight at the after school program.

Meanwhile Brandon's mom says he is suspended until an April hearing where Fresno Unified School District will decide if he should be expelled. The school district told action news last week they're working with detectives in this ongoing investigation.