VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — A student at Renaissance Academy in Virginia Beach who brought a gun to school in March was sentenced to probation Tuesday.
The sentencing comes after William Craigen pled guilty to carrying a concealed weapon and possession of a firearm on school property in July. For the concealed carry charge, he got a sentence of 12 months probation. For the possession charge, he got a two-year suspended sentence and two years of probation.
According to a stipulation of facts document, on March 20, Craigen entered the school and put his backpack through the metal detector. The school security officer saw what appeared to be a firearm on the metal detector screen.
The officer unzipped the front pouch of the backpack and found the gun.
When Virginia Beach police officers got to the school, Craigen told them he went to work the night before and brought his gun with him inside the backpack. He told investigators he forgot to take the gun out before going to school.
