WASHINGTON — The student who repeatedly brought a loaded gun to a Montgomery County, Maryland, school pleaded guilty Tuesday and will serve four months in jail.
Alwin Chen received a three-year prison sentence, but all but four months were suspended — which, with time served, means he will be released in June. The Clarksburg High School honor student has been jailed since Feb. 15.
Chen was charged with possession of a handgun, possession of a firearm by a person under 21-years-old and possession of a firearm on school property.
Chen had brought a loaded Glock 19 to the school multiple times from September until his arrest in February, one day after the massacre at a Florida high school. Investigators said he had brought the gun to protect himself.
“What I did was stupid,” Chen said to Montgomery County Circuit Judge John Maloney.
“What you did is pretty scary,” Maloney replied.
Chen also received five years of probation and 300 hours of community service. In addition, he must undergo mental health counseling and random drug testing, and he must stay away from Clarksburg High School. He will still graduate from Montgomery County schools.
Defense attorney Jill Michaels said Chen had no evil intent. “He’s a teenager. He did as teenagers do,” she said.
“Bad mistake, good kid.”
Chen’s parents had tearfully asked the judge to give the 18-year-old a chance to correct his mistake.
“Your life is not going to be ruined by this, and you could be home by Mother’s Day,” Maloney told the teen.
WTOP’s Dick Uliano contributed to this report.
