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Watauga High School Students Charged in Gang Incident

April 5, 2012. According to Boone Police Department Sergeant Matt Stevens, a Watauga High School student was charged Wednesday, suspected of participating in a criminal gang and another student was charged in an unrelated incident by officers that were on campus responding to the gang threat.

Enrique Rivera Alvarez, age 17, was charged with one felony count of soliciting gang activity. Alvarez is suspected of recruiting students to participate in a gang related fight. He was taken before a Watauga County Magistrate then booked into the Watauga County Detention Center under a $10,000 secured bond with a May 17, 2012 court date.

As officers were on campus for increased security in response to that possible fight, Humberto Ascencio-Estrada was detained by police and charged with misdemeanor disorderly conduct after he got into an altercation with another student.

The Boone Police Department is committed to fighting criminal gang activity. The investigation into this incident continues and additional charges may be forthcoming.

UPDATE: An additional Watauga High School student has been arrested today on a charge related to gang activity.

Noe Hernandez Lopez, age 19, was charged with one felony count of soliciting gang activity in violation of the North Carolina Gang Suppression Act.  Lopez is also alleged to have recruited students to participate in a gang related fight.  He was taken into custody with the assistance of Blowing Rock Police Officers while on a school field trip and transported to the Watauga County Magistrate’s Office.  Lopez was then taken to the Watauga County Detention Center where he was held under a $10,000 secured bond with a May 17, 2012 court date.

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