Cal Poly student accused of shooting guns will be jailed if he returns to campus

One of the two Cal Poly students who is accused of shooting guns on campus will be sent back to jail if he steps foot on Cal Poly’s campus, a judge ruled Wednesday.

Charles Hojaboom and Brandon Pham were arrested by Cal Poly police on Nov. 11 after officers found the two along Poly Canyon Road in possession of a shotgun, a loaded, concealed pistol and a knife, Cal Poly spokesperson Matt Lazier told The Tribune at the time. The officers also found a nearby campus sign with bullet holes, he said.

Both Hojaboom and Pham originally posted bail on Nov. 12, the day after they were arrested.

But Hojaboom was taken back into custody after a Dec. 14 court hearing in which San Luis Obispo Superior Court Judge Timothy Covello found Hojaboom was a danger to the public and increased his bail to no bail.

Pham posted bail and and is out of custody, but had the terms of release tightened on Wednesday such that he could be sent back to jail if he returns to campus.

Texts and videos show the two students shot guns on campus at least four times, court records say, including into the ceiling of Hojaboom’s dorm room.

Cal Poly students charged with multiple felonies

Hojaboom and Pham were both charged with four counts of possession of a loaded firearm on a college campus, possession of a knife on a college campus, discharging a firearm with gross negligence — with a sentencing enhancement for a serious felony — and shooting at an inhabited dwelling.

Hojaboom was also charged with misdemeanor possession of tools with intent to commit vandalism, court records show, and Pham was charged with misdemeanor possession of a stun gun on a college campus.

The San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office filed a motion to increase Pham’s bail as well, but it was denied at the Dec. 14 hearing.

Pham remained out on bail. He and Hojaboom were already barred from campus via a restraining order, court records show, but now Pham will violate his bail conditions if he does not adhere to the order.

Hojaboom was not present in court due to medical reasons, his attorney said.

The restraining order also prohibits Pham and Hojaboom from legally purchasing a gun.

Violating bail can result in returning to jail and potentially another criminal charge.

The next court date for the pair is scheduled for Jan. 4. The men have not yet entered pleas to their charges.

Students shot guns on campus 4 times, records say

Before their Nov. 11 arrest, court records say, Hojaboom and Pham shot guns on campus at least three other times.

The first was on June 10, when the two exchanged texts, videos and photos of them shooting a shotgun in a Cal Poly horse pasture.

Then, on June 17, the two decided to shoot guns near Cal Poly’s volleyball courts while fireworks were going off nearby. The two exchanged videos of each other shooting at that incident as well.

And on Oct. 27, a video shows Hojaboom shooting a rifle into the ceiling of his bedroom. Court records say 83 text messages were deleted from that day, but detectives found a bullet in the room above Hojaboom’s and a hole in Hojaboom’s ceiling consistent with a large-caliber rifle.

Court records show detectives found two guns, loaded magazines and live and expended shotgun rounds on Hojaboom at the time of his arrest, but nothing was found on Pham at the time.

When detectives searched their Poly Canyon Village dorm, court records said, they found a disassembled rifle, 650 rounds of ammunition of various calibers, a ski mask, machete, three large fixed-blade knives and a butterfly knife inside Hojaboom’s room and a large fixed-blade knife, mace pepper gel, a stun gun/flashlight, a butterfly knife and ammunition attached to a military-style helmet inside Pham’s room.