Father Charged After Child Brought A Gun To School: Police

SPOTSYLVANIA COUNTY, VA — A Spotsylvania man faces criminal charges after police said his child brought a gun to Chancellor Middle School last month. Authorities claimed the man left the .45 caliber pistol loaded and unsecured.

The Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Office identified the man as 37-year-old Josette Rodriguez. He is charged with one count of recklessly leaving a loaded, unsecured firearm so as to endanger the life or limb of a child under the age of 14.

Rodriguez was officially charged on Monday. His initial court date is scheduled for June 20. If convicted, Rodriguez could face up to a year in prison, based on Virginia's sentencing guidelines.

On May 19, a student at Chancellor Middle School told a teacher that they saw another student with a handgun, and that the bag was inside the other student's bag, police said. The teacher notified administrators and a school resource officer.

Authorities found loaded .45 caliber handgun in the student's bag.

"At no time was the gun showed in a way to threaten students, faculty, staff, or threaten the safety of the school," the sheriff's office wrote in a report after the incident. "The joint efforts of the student, teacher, school administration, and school resource officer should be commended for their quick actions during today’s incident."

On Monday, the Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Office urged gun owners to lock up their firearms and keep them out of the reach of children.

"Sheriff Roger Harris would like to remind parents that properly storing and or securing firearms is the best way to prevent curious kids from getting hurt, youth and adults in crisis from using a family firearm for suicide, and firearms from being stolen and misused by others," the sheriff's office said.