Folsom High 'Sniper Points' Suspect Wins Bid For Home Lockdown

Curt Taras can await trial on home confinement with an ankle monitor after psychiatric treatment, amid federal gun charges tied to Folsom High.

Jan. 31, 2026 at 12:55pm

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A federal magistrate has ruled that Curt Taras, a Folsom man accused of scouting 'sniper points' at Folsom High School, can be placed on home incarceration with an ankle monitor once he finishes an out-of-state residential treatment program. Taras remains under a federal indictment accusing him of possessing firearms and ammunition while legally barred from having them.

Why it matters

The case highlights the challenges of balancing public safety concerns with providing mental health treatment for individuals facing serious criminal charges. The judge's decision aims to address Taras's psychiatric needs while also limiting his movements during the legal process.

The details

Taras was arrested in September after making alarming comments about 'taking out' Folsom High School. Police found a firearm within 1,000 feet of the school campus, as well as additional weapons and ammunition in Taras's vehicle and home. His attorneys argued that his conduct was the result of an acute paranoid mental-health episode tied to bipolar disorder and a traumatic brain injury, and that supervised treatment and monitoring would address his needs more effectively than keeping him in pretrial detention.

  • On September 24, school staff confronted Taras on the Folsom High campus, leading to a lockdown.
  • Taras was first detained after the late-September encounter at Folsom High, then later drew additional scrutiny over a separate visit to an elementary school that violated a court order.

The players

Curt Taras

A Folsom man accused of scouting 'sniper points' at Folsom High School and facing federal gun charges.

Allison Claire

A U.S. Magistrate Judge who ruled that Taras can be placed on home incarceration with an ankle monitor once he finishes an out-of-state residential treatment program.

Michael Baker

Folsom assistant basketball coach who reported that Taras made the comment, 'I could take this school out in 30 seconds if I needed to.'

Folsom Cordova Unified School District

The school district that notified parents about the incidents and has increased school safety coordination with law enforcement.

U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of California

The office prosecuting the case, which it describes as the product of a joint investigation with the Folsom Police Department and the FBI.

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What they’re saying

“He made the comment, 'I could take this school out in 30 seconds if I needed to,'”

— Michael Baker, Folsom assistant basketball coach

What’s next

Prosecutors and defense lawyers are expected back in federal court as the case proceeds, and the timing of any supervised release will depend on Taras's completion of the residential program and his compliance with the court's monitoring rules.

The takeaway

This case highlights the complex balance between public safety concerns and the need for mental health treatment for individuals facing serious criminal charges. The judge's decision to allow Taras to await trial under home confinement with strict supervision aims to address his psychiatric needs while also limiting potential risks to the community.