Teen sentenced to probation for stealing gun, providing to fellow student on LHS grounds

photo by: Mike Yoder

Lawrence High School is pictured on July 28, 2016.

A teen has been sentenced to probation for stealing a gun from his father, which he then reportedly sold to a fellow student on Lawrence High School grounds.

Douglas County District Court juvenile judge Bethany Roberts closed hearings in the teen’s case to the public, but according to the sentencing order requested by the Journal-World following his sentencing on Wednesday, the teen was sentenced to one year on “intensive supervision” probation.

He’s ordered to continue to “actively participate” in services including substance abuse treatment, medication management and family therapy, according to the document.

The teen is no longer enrolled in Lawrence public schools, a district spokeswoman said previously. His sentencing order says that if he remains in Douglas County, he is to attend the county’s Detention Day School.

The incident happened in September on the LHS campus, 1901 Louisiana St.

The teen stole the gun — a Hi-Point JHP45 model — from his father, according to court documents. In March, he pleaded guilty as charged to felony theft.

When the incident occurred, the two involved teens, ages 14 and 15, were both students at LHS.

Lawrence police and school leaders looked into the situation after a parent reported hearing about a student selling a firearm to another student, LHS Principal Matt Brungardt said in an email to school parents at that time. He said police investigated further and recovered the gun off campus.

In February, the other teen was sentenced to six months probation. He was initially charged with felony theft for obtaining control of a stolen gun, but pleaded no contest to misdemeanor criminal use of weapons, for being under 18 and possessing a gun with a barrel less than 12 inches long.

Contact Journal-World public safety reporter Sara Shepherd

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