Calif. father gets restraining order against son's 4th grade classmate

(CBS) - California father Robert Casteel has been granted a temporary restraining order against a fourth grader who has been reportedly tormenting his son.

Casteel alleges the fourth grader has been threatening his son in class. Casteel's son Christopher told his father the classmate pulled a knife on him and threatened to "get you after school."

The Press Enterprise reports school officials and legal experts say this restraining order seems to be the first of its kind. Those officials say they could not remember another instance in which a grade-school student was under a court order to stay away from a fellow classmate.

"My son was terrified to go to school," said Casteel. "I kept him home from school five days until I got the temporary restraining order."

ABC reports the boy and the school district were officially served with the order Tuesday, said the father, Robert Casteel.

The order is in effect until a Feb. 8 court hearing, and mandates that the boy accused of making the threats must stay at least 20 feet away from Christopher.

"I feel this is a small victory so far," Casteel said. "I don't want this kid to go to prison but something needed to be done. I want to prevent another San Diego from happening."

By that Casteel was referring to the Jan 16 stabbing death of 12-year-old Ryan Carter in a mobile home in a suburb east of San Diego. The boy's 10-year-old playmate has been accused in that incident.

"That could have been my son," Casteel said. "Everyone is saying I was overreacting. But you can never overreact when it's your kid."

The boy accused in Christopher's case denied making a threat with a knife in an interview with investigators. Other students who witnessed the confrontation between the boys told conflicting stories.

Casteel said Christopher reported the incident to his teacher, whose response was minimal. When Casteel called the principal, the principal said she was on a conference call, he said. He called the cops, who located the boy and confiscated a small pocket knife from him, he said.

The knife, which was turned over to the deputy by the school principal, was described as a 2-inch pocket knife.

The boy was suspended for five days, Casteel said.

Casteel was "shocked" by the idea he might be setting a precedent, given how prominent bullying and weapons in schools have become.

"I'm just trying to keep my kid safe," he said.