Saturday, May 20, 2000
Teen faces weapons charge
Gun found on school grounds
By David Eck
Enquirer Contributor
FRANKLIN — A Franklin High School student accused of having a loaded pistol in his car at the school was released Friday from the Warren County Jail on his promise to appear in court May 26 for a preliminary hearing.
Matthew Downey, 18, is charged with illegally conveying a deadly weapon into a school safety zone, a felony. In Franklin Munici pal Court on Friday, Mr. Downey, a junior at the school, told Judge James D. Ruppert that he has no criminal record and has lived with his grandfather on Ohio 123 for the last several months.
Dressed in an orange jail jumpsuit and appearing via video from the jail, Mr. Downey sounded timid as he answered the judge's questions.
The preliminary hearing will determine whether the case should be sent to Warren County Common Pleas Court.
If convicted of the charge, Mr. Downey could receive up to one year in jail and a $2,500 fine, said Franklin Municipal Court Prosecutor Steve Runge.
Mr. Downey has been suspended from school and could be recommended for expulsion, said Bill Wood, administrative assistant of Franklin schools.
A police report shows that Franklin Patrolman Gary Wallace found the weapon loaded with nine rounds in the spare tire compart ment of Mr. Downey's car Thursday in the student parking lot. Police were called after school administrators received a tip from an anonymous parent that Mr. Downey had been showing off a gun at school.
Franklin High School Principal Robert Leahy said Mr. Downey had not shown the gun at school, but that he did show it to some friends at a restaurant last weekend, the police report said.
High-school officials could not find the gun when they initially searched Mr. Downey's car.
Colon cancer vaccine ready to test
Student graduates in hospital
Again: A fatal crash and a stricken school
Taft signs ban on some late-term abortions
'Average Joe' robs Clermont bank
Fairfield official indicted on fraud
Findlay project gets $250,000 gift
Petition dispute a lesson in civics
RAMSEY: School funding is one hot potato
Slain police officers honored at memorial service
'Son of Beast' closed for third weekend
TV ads called loophole
Ky. to see Bush, Gore often
N.Ky. primary is one-office race
Other candidates on ballot, like it or not
Appeal rejected in Officer Partin's death
Newport looks at race book
Schools look for new chief
Schools to move off tainted site
Cancer report led to probe
Get to it
May Festival gets off to glorious start
Pig Parade: Sow's It Goin' . . . Cincinnati!
Suspect in fatal DUI returns to Mexico
Teen faces weapons charge
Teen held on suspicion of poisoning drinks
Tristate Digest
Around the Commonwealth
Covington teachers get raises
Dozens charged after wild party
Fairfield schools hire new athletic director
Girl, 14, suspended for threatening letter
Man guilty of raping girl, 11
Middletown will survey residents about parks
Mission: To bring Hamilton business
Orchestra listens to critics of new name
OSU strike appears ended
Phys ed shunted aside in curriculum changes
S. Lebanon man pleads guilty in Jan. shooting
School digs up the past
Senate hopeful wants divorce of religion, politics
Sibling bus drivers retiring
Slaying still juvenile case, Wehrung lawyers say
Software maker heads to Deerfield
