Teen who brought stun gun to school could get youth sentencing.

Kyle James, left, with attorney Terry Shaw.

Teen who brought stun gun to school could get youth sentencing.

#OceanaCountyCrime

By Allison Scarbrough, Editor.

HART – A 17-year-old Pentwater student pleaded utility in 27th Circuit Court Monday, Nov. 4, to a felony of possession of a taser.

Kyle James, of Riverton Township in Mason County, admitted to Judge Robert D. Springstead that he had a taser in his locker at Pentwater High School, Sept. 16.

“Did you have possession of a taser?” Springstead asked. “Yes, It was in my bag,” James said. “My bag was in my locker. I was in a classroom.”

James said he bought the taser online. “It is meant to incapacitate someone,” he said. “It is meant to be a measure is safety.”

In exchange for his plea, a misdemeanor of possessing a weapon at school was dismissed.

Oceana County Assistant Prosecutor Chad DeRouin is recommending that James be sentenced under the term of the Holmes Youthful Trainee Act (HYTA). HYTA allows defendants under the age of 24 with no criminal record to withdraw their plea to a felony and plead to a misdemeanor if they abide by the terms of probation. HYTA cases are non-public. So if he is sentenced under HYTA, his sentencing will not be publicly released.

“The investigation did not uncover any evidence that there was a threat to Pentwater students or staff by the suspect,” stated a post on the Pentwater Police Department’s Facebook page.

James was immediately suspended from school on a “long-term suspension,” said Superintendent Scott Karaptian. Although, he was not expelled.

“It was a series of unfortunate events that no school wants to go through,” said Karaptian. “Protocol was followed swiftly by school staff and law enforcement, and no one was in any danger. The items were never brandished, and no one was threatened.”

Possession of a taser is punishable by up to four years in prison.

Sentencing Jan. 13 at 9 a.m.

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