A Virginia high school student will serve five years in prison after bringing a loaded weapon onto school grounds earlier this year, according to officials.
Anthony Orion Dalton, 17, was sentenced on October 8 to 9 years in jail, with 4 years suspended, after being discovered in possession of a handgun on campus in April, according to a press statement from the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office.
According to the release, he will remain at the Roanoke Valley Juvenile Jail Center until the age of 18, at which point he will be moved to an adult jail facility to serve the remainder of his term.
On April 1, Dalton shared a Snapchat photo of the gun he carried to Franklin County High School, according to WSET, WDBJ7, and The Roanoke Times.
A school resource officer was notified of the image, and a deputy and administrator questioned Dalton, discovering the loaded revolver in his luggage, according to the reports.
Dalton was prosecuted as an adult and found guilty of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm on school property, and transportation of a firearm by a person under the age of 18, according to WDBJ, WSET, and WSLS.
“This sentencing reflects the severity of the offense and reinforces that weapons have no place in our schools,” Sheriff Bill Overton said in the release. “Our School Resource Deputies play a critical role in maintaining the safety of our campuses, and their quick response—along with that of our school partners—made all the difference that day.”
Officials said the case “serves as a powerful reminder of the seriousness of bringing a firearm onto school property and the life-altering consequences that can result,” per the release. The sheriff’s office urged parents to discuss gun safety with their children and reiterated its message: “See something, say something,” according to the release.
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