Georgia Student Arrested After Bringing Weapon and Contraband on School Property

According to reports, a high school student was arrested this past week for bringing a weapon and illegal contraband to the school.

The incident occurred at Grady High School. A spokesperson for the school said that the items were found in the student's backpack. So far the district has not specified what kind of weapon was found or what kind of illegal contraband was seized. It has been released, however, that the student will be facing criminal charges.

As a Georgia Criminal Defense Lawyer, I will outline one of the likely offenses faced by the student in today's post.

Carrying Weapons within a School Zone in Georgia

Carrying weapons within a school zone in Georgia is defined in O.C.G.A 16-11-127 as:

It shall be unlawful for any person to carry to or to possess or have under such person's control while within a school safety zone or at a school building, school function, or school property or on a bus or other transportation furnished by the school any weapon or explosive compound, other than fireworks the possession of which is regulated by Chapter 10 of Title 25.

A school zone or school safety zone is defined by law as any real property owned by or leased to any public or private elementary school, secondary school, or school board and used for elementary or secondary education and in or on the campus of any public or private technical school, vocational school, college, university, or institution of postsecondary education.

A weapon is defined by law as any pistol, revolver, or any weapon designed or intended to propel a missile of any kind, or any dirk, bowie knife, switchblade knife, ballistic knife, any other knife having a blade of two or more inches, straight-edge razor, razor blade, spring stick, knuckles, whether made from metal, thermoplastic, wood, or other similar material, blackjack, any bat, club, or other bludgeon-type weapon, or any flailing instrument consisting of two or more rigid parts connected in such a manner as to allow them to swing freely, which may be known as a nun chahka, nun chuck, nunchaku, shuriken, or fighting chain, or any disc, of whatever configuration, having at least two points or pointed blades which is designed to be thrown or propelled and which may be known as a throwing star or oriental dart, or any weapon of like kind, and any stun gun or taser.

Any license holder who violates this subsection shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. Any person who is not a license holder who violates this subsection shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, be punished by a fine of not more than $10,000.00, by imprisonment for not less than two nor more than ten years, or both.

Practice Note

Dangerous Weapon Offenses in Georgia are serious and taken very seriously by law enforcement. If you or a loved one has been arrested for a weapons violation or any other criminal offense, contact a Georgia Criminal Defense Attorney now.