The mother of a 6-year-old boy who shot his teacher in Virginia earlier this year is expected to plead guilty to federal gun charges Monday, according to her attorney.
Deja Taylor was charged last week with illegally using drugs while owning a firearm and making a false statement about using marijuana when she purchased the gun, court records show. Her son used the weapon to shoot first-grade teacher Abby Zwerner in January.
Taylor, who is also was charged in state court in connection with the shooting, could face up to 25 years in prison on the federal charges, but her attorney Gene Rossi said sentencing guidelines call for 18 to 24 months in prison. Rossi called the case “a perfect storm of horrible consequences.”
“It’s a terrible tragedy because a wonderful teacher’s life was almost taken, but it’s also a tragedy because a very young boy, a very young son got hold somehow of a gun owned by Ms. Deja Taylor.” Rossi told USA TODAY. “Ms. Taylor’s role in this tragedy is a complete accident, but she will have forever have guilt for what her son did.”
PREVIOUSLY:Deja Taylor, mother of 6-year-old who shot teacher in Virginia, to face new federal gun charges
What is Deja Taylor charged with?
Prosecutors allege Taylor knew she was an “unlawful user of marijuana” when she bought a gun last year, but she indicated she wasn’t on a form, according to court documents.
Although marijuana is legal in Virginia, it is still a controlled substance under federal law, which generally prohibits people from possessing firearms if they are an unlawful user of a controlled substance, among other things.
Taylor also was arrested in April and charged in state court with felony child neglect and recklessly leaving a loaded firearm so as to endanger a child, which is a misdemeanor. She is expected to stand trial in August and faces up to six years in prison if convicted on those charges.
Sentencing expected in November
Rossi said he expects Taylor will be sentenced on the federal charges in November during a hearing at which Zwerner and other school officials may testify. James Ellenson, another attorney for Taylor, said in a statement that Taylor’s legal team will present “mitigating evidence,” which they hope will be taken into consideration during sentencing.
Ellenson said he had “very constructive negotiations with federal authorities” about the plea.
The plea agreement and a “statement of facts” will be publicly available after the hearing, according to Rossi. Prosecutors also will release a statement as part of news release after the hearing, according to a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.
What happened during the shooting?
Taylor’s son, who has not been identified, shot Zwerner Jan. 6 while she was reading to students in her classroom at Richneck Elementary in Newport News, Virginia. Zwerner was shot in the hand and the chest, according to police.
Ellenson previously said it is unclear how the boy got the gun, which was secured with a trigger lock and stored on a high shelf in a closet. The top prosecutor handling the case told reporters in March the child would not face any charges.
The school district was repeatedly warned the boy might have a gun the day of the shooting, according to a $40 million lawsuit Zwerner filed alleging gross negligence. The boy had a history of behavioral challenges and violence towards teachers, the lawsuit said.
Taylor has said her son has ADHD. The boy’s family also said he was typically accompanied to class by a parent as part of a care plan with the school, but he was unaccompanied for the first time the week of the shooting because his behavior had improved.
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Contributing: The Associated Press
