Smoking Pot In School Bathroom Leads To Gun In Parking Lot

18-year-old Cole Hornsby had a handgun locked in his truck parked at East Central High School.

Cole Hornsby. Photo by Dearborn County Sheriff's Department.

(St. Leon, Ind.) - An East Central High School student is accused of taking a loaded firearm onto school property.

Cole Hornsby, 18, was in a restroom at the school when staff smelled the odor of marijuana burning on Tuesday, April 17, Dearborn-Ohio County Prosecutor Lynn Deddens announced Thursday. Hornsby was allegedly caught by school officials with a joint on his person.

Hornsby gave consent for a school resource officer and an administrator to search his truck in the school parking lot. That’s where the officer allegedly discovered a loaded Glock handgun in the locked middle console. Ammunition, more marijuana stored in a Mason jar, and a digital scale were also located.

Hornsby is charged with Carrying a Handgun on School Property (level 5 felony), Maintaining a Common Nuisance (level 6 felony), and Possession of Marijuana (class B misdemeanor).

He remains held in jail at the Dearborn County Law Enforcement Center. His bond has been set at $1,000 cash and $40,000 surety.

Sunman-Dearborn Community Schools Superintendent Andrew Jackson sent the following letter to school parents that same day:

Dear Parents,

Sunman-Dearborn Community School Corporation continues to keep student safety as our top priority.

Today, a student at East Central High School came to complain about a smoke smell coming for a restroom. Mr. Chad Swinney, Assistant Principal, was able to use our extensive video camera system to determine which student to question. The student had marijuana on his person. Mr. Brian Maynard, School Resource Officer, assisted Mr. Swinney with searching his car. During the search additional marijuana was found as well as a handgun in a locked box. The student will receive the most severe school punishment allowed. The student was arrested. The criminal matter has been turned over to law enforcement.

As I mentioned in my letter on March 17th, please speak to your children about speaking to an adult when they do not feel safe, or hear or see something that could threaten their safety.

They may also use our anonymous SafeSchool Alert system - call or text 812-717-4533, email 1207@alert1.us, or through the website at http://1207.alert1.us.

Sincerely,

Andrew Jackson

Superintendent