Clovis Police Charge Adults for Encouraging Student Protest

Authorities say adults who led students away from school during walkout could face misdemeanor charges.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Clovis Police in California say they plan to file misdemeanor charges against two adults for "contributing to the delinquency of a minor" after the adults allegedly encouraged students to leave school and join a protest against ICE and federal immigration actions. Police Chief Curt Flemming said the issue is not with the protest itself, but with student safety, as the adults were not the students' parents. An attorney says the charges may not stick, as the students and adults were exercising their First Amendment rights.

Why it matters

This case highlights the tension between students' rights to protest and school districts' concerns about student safety and attendance. It also raises questions about the limits of free speech when it comes to encouraging minors to leave school grounds.

The details

Clovis Police say they have identified two adults who were waiting at a high school and leading students to a protest site during Tuesday's walkouts. The police chief said they plan to file misdemeanor charges against the adults for "contributing to the delinquency of a minor" under California Penal Code. The police say they are still trying to identify more adults involved and are using surveillance cameras and other technology to do so.

  • The protests and student walkouts occurred on Tuesday.
  • As of Thursday evening, the charges had not yet been sent to the district attorney's office.

The players

Curt Flemming

Clovis Police Chief who said his department plans to file charges against the adults.

Steven Smith

An attorney who said he believes the charges against the adults may not stick, as the students and adults were exercising their First Amendment rights.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We have adults that are at the high school waiting for the students that are not parents that are leading these students to the protest site.”

— Curt Flemming, Clovis Police Chief (KSEE/KGPE)

“If parents want to sign them out appropriately and escort them and be there with them and teach them about, you know, the cause that they're protesting, we support that. But to allow them just to walk away from the school unattended with some adult that they don't know that has some other purpose behind what they're doing is a concern for us.”

— Curt Flemming, Clovis Police Chief (KSEE/KGPE)

“They can arrest whoever they want. But then the question is, is the DA's office going to file any charges against those people? Because they've got to prove it.”

— Steven Smith, Attorney (KSEE/KGPE)

“I haven't heard of any crimes being committed other than missing school, and missing school one day doesn't make you a truant.”

— Steven Smith, Attorney (KSEE/KGPE)

What’s next

The judge will decide whether to allow the charges to proceed against the adults once they are filed with the district attorney's office.

The takeaway

This case highlights the delicate balance between students' rights to protest and schools' concerns about student safety and attendance. It raises questions about the limits of free speech when it comes to encouraging minors to leave school grounds, and whether the charges against the adults will ultimately hold up in court.