A Folsom man has been indicted by a federal grand jury on four federal counts in the case in which he reportedly possessed multiple firearms and ammunition near Folsom High School campus while legally prohibited from having them, U.S. Attorney’s Office announced.
According to court documents, the investigation began on Sept. 24, 2025, when officers encountered 53-year-old Curt Michael Taras within 1,000 feet of Folsom High School and discovered he had a firearm in his possession. Because the incident occurred within a federally designated school zone, agents and detectives conducted a broader follow-up investigation, which led to the recovery of additional firearms and ammunition in Taras’s vehicle and at his residence.
Federal prosecutors say Taras was barred from possessing any firearms or ammunition under a Sacramento County Superior Court restraining order that prohibits him from harassing, stalking, or threatening an intimate partner. Such an order triggers federal prohibition and elevates possession of weapons to a federal offense.
The indictment includes four counts: possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, possession of ammunition by a prohibited person, and two counts related to possession of a firearm within a school zone. Each charge carries separate statutory penalties under federal law.
The case is the result of the joint investigation by the Folsom Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Abendroth and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad Ng are handling the prosecution.
If convicted in this portion of the case, Taras faces a maximum of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for possessing a firearm within a school zone. He faces up to 15 years in prison and another $250,000 fine for possessing a firearm while restrained by a court order.
A federal judge will ultimately determine any sentence based on statutory factors and the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
At this time, Taras remains on federal hold in the Sacramento County Jail until further proceedings.
TIMELINE: FROM INITIAL CAMPUS THREATS TO FEDERAL CUSTODY
The following chronology outlines the series of events that led to Taras’s federal detention, tracing the sequence of school-related incidents, arrests, and court actions that have prompted a coordinated local and federal response.
Sept. 24 – First arrest at Folsom High School
Folsom Police responded to reports of a man refusing to leave Folsom High School and making alarming statements. Officers said Curt Taras was armed with a knife and allegedly made threatening remarks referencing “sniper points,” prompting an immediate staff response. A search of his vehicle uncovered a firearm, a high-capacity magazine, and another knife. He was booked into the Sacramento County Main Jail on suspicion of making criminal threats and possession of a firearm on school grounds and released on bail the following day.
Late September – Court orders and prior history
Following the arrest, investigators learned Taras was subject to a domestic-violence restraining order reportedly filed by his wife, requiring him to surrender all firearms and ammunition. Records indicate he was reportedly arrested in 2024 on domestic-violence charges, including corporal injury.
In the days following the arrest – District safety efforts
In the days following the first incident, Folsom Cordova Unified School District officials worked with police to strengthen security. Additional patrols were assigned near campuses, School Resource Officers expanded their presence, and visitor check-in procedures were reinforced. Taras was permanently banned from all school properties.
Oct. 13 – Second arrest at Sandra J. Gallardo Elementary
Despite the ban, Taras was seen walking through the Sandra J. Gallardo Elementary School campus around 2 p.m. on Columbus Day, a non-student day. Officers later located him at his home and arrested him for violating a court order. Police confirmed he was not armed.
Oct. 14 – Joint safety statement issued
The next day, the Folsom Police Department and Folsom Cordova Unified School District released a joint statement reaffirming their commitment to campus safety and increased coordination with the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office.
Oct. 15 – Taras issues statement to media
Early Wednesday, Taras emailed a statement to Folsom Times and other outlets describing his earlier arrests as misunderstandings tied to his medical condition. “I had a misunderstanding in response to the vandalism at Folsom High School which was a trauma response,” he wrote, saying he suffers from a traumatic brain injury and did not intend harm.
Oct. 15 – Federal arrest
Later that day, federal agents from the FBI Sacramento Field Office arrested Taras on a federal firearm charge stemming from the Sept. 24 incident. He was taken into custody without incident.
Oct. 17 -Federal court detention order
U.S. Magistrate Judge Sean Riordan ordered Taras to remain detained until a mental health facility could be found to begin treatment. The ruling temporarily halts a state-level plea deal that would have placed him in veterans’ treatment court.
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