Unlawful Possession of a BB Gun

middlesex county courthouse

Brandishing BB-Gun in High School

Police charged a 17-year-old student with brandishing a black BB gun while inside a car at West-Windsor-Plainsboro High School North, according to recent reports. The incident occurred last Wednesday as the defendant, a West Windsor resident, sat in a 1999 Honda Prelude in the school parking lot.

By the time police got to the scene, the defendant had fled the scene. The police were later able to track down the defendant at a friend’s home in West Windsor, according to the report. The teen was placed under arrest and taken into police custody, and a subsequent investigation and searched revealed he was in possession of a black BB gun. He was charged with possession of a weapon and possession of a firearm on school grounds. These are serious charges – most people don’t know that in New Jersey B-B guns are actually considered real “firearms”. Based on his charges, he will be facing mandatory prison time under the Graves Act. It will be interesting to see if the teen is charged as an adult or juvenile. In any weapon or firearm case it is especially important that you consult with an experienced weapon defense lawyer so you know your options.

As for now, the teen has been released to a family member pending a court appearance, police said. Because these charges are indictable felony offenses he will be required to appear in Superior Court.

With more than a decade of experience defending clients against criminal charges, founding partner William A. Proetta has successfully handled and tried thousands of cases, from DWI to murder. As a New Jersey native, he has focused his career on helping people in the area where he grew up, serving Middlesex, Ocean, Hudson, and Union counties.