Custodian accused of hiding gun in school gets cash-only bond

Katie Nelson | Argus Leader

Show Caption Hide Caption Briefing: Custodian brought handgun to school, police say A custodian left a loaded small-caliber handgun inside a men's bathroom the Career and Technical Education Academy in northwestern Sioux Falls on Friday.

A custodian arrested after allegedly hiding a gun in the ceiling of a school restroom was given a $5,000 cash-only bond on Tuesday.

Joseph Jay Croal, 25, is charged with possession of a firearm on school premises and making a false report to authorities. Both are class 1 misdemeanors punishable by up to one year in the county jail or a $2,000 fine.

Deputy state's attorney Brooke Goodale said Croal lied to law enforcement about finding the gun and that Croal had actually hidden the Ruger handgun in a men's restroom ceiling at the Career and Technical Education Academy in Sioux Falls on Friday night.

"We will never truly know his motive for hiding the gun at school," Goodale told Judge Sara Pokela.

Related: Superintendent: Custodian's story of finding loaded gun in car 'highly unlikely'

The public defender's office, which is representing Croal, requested a personal recognizance bond, pointing out that Croal voluntarily came down to the law enforcement center and was cooperative with police.

Judge Pokela said she did not know why Croal had hidden the gun and did not want to know, but said his case was "very serious" before handing down a $5,000 cash-only bond.

Croal is scheduled to appear again in court next week.

Croal had been working at CTE since 2016, school officials said. Sioux Falls School District Superintendent Brian Maher said if the allegations against Croal turn out to be verifiable, his employment with the district will be terminated.

Croal's name was no longer listed on the district's staff directory as of Tuesday evening, but district officials wouldn't confirm whether he had been fired.

Related: Read the court documents detailing how a gun was found at a Sioux Falls school