A random drug sweep at a Monroe County school resulted in the arrested of a 10th grader who allegedly had a stolen gun and bullets in his backpack. In Georgia, possession of a stolen firearm and possession of a firearm on school grounds may warrant felony-level charges despite the accused’s young age. His case will first go to juvenile court and then a decision will be made as to whether he should be tried as an adult.
According to new reports, on Tuesday, Oct. 9, the sheriff’s office conducted a drug search at Mary Persons High School. A total of 17 police dogs were utilized during the search. One dog pointed out a teenage boy’s backpack to authorities. Upon searching the bag, police claim to have found an unloaded gun and bullets.
The young man, who has not been identified to the press due to his age, was transported to a juvenile detention center. It is unclear when his case will go before a judge. It is also unclear if his case will be handled in juvenile or criminal court.
When a juvenile is arrested for something as big as possession of a stolen weapon on school grounds, the issue needs to be treated seriously as that is how the state of Georgia will view it. If this young man is charged with a felony and tried as an adult, it will affect his whole life. Even if this case does remain in juvenile court, the consequences may follow this teenager for years to come. A criminal defense attorney with experience handling juvenile cases could help the teen and his family get through this difficult time, make informed legal decisions and work to achieve the best outcome possible.