Dec. 04--A 16-year-old Barrington High School student charged with illegally possessing a firearm at school would be allowed to leave the state to attend a residential treatment program if his family posts bond, a Lake County Circuit Court judge ruled Friday.
Judge Christen Bishop also lowered Kyle Johnson's bail from $75,000 to $50,000
Johnson, a junior at the school, was arrested after the campus went on lockdown when a faculty member reported seeing a student with a gun in a washroom on Monday, police said.
The gun was not loaded and was never pointed at anyone during the incident, but was found in Johnson's backpack with ammunition, prescription drugs and marijuana, police said.
Johnson, of Barrington, was initially charged as a juvenile with seven counts related to bringing a gun on school property and possession of controlled substances. He was charged as an adult on Tuesday and authorities said additional charges may be added when the case goes before a grand jury.
His attorney, Jennifer Hansen, said she did not know whether Johnson was still facing the juvenile charges.
In asking Judge Bishop to reduce Johnson's bond Friday, Hansen said his only prior offense was disregarding a stop sign, describing him as a B and C student who lives with his parents.
She also brought letters she said had been written in his support, some from his classmates at Barrington.
A prosecutor said he felt the initial $75,000 bail was "appropriate," saying he was concerned that although the weapon was unloaded, Johnson was carrying the ".357 revolver" with bullets on school grounds.
In addition to reducing Johnson's bond to $50,000, Bishop also authorized a neuropsychological evaluation and said that if Johnson posts bond and is accepted to the treatment program in Texas, he would be allowed to leave the state to attend.
Barrington School District 220 suspended Johnson for 10 days and recommended his expulsion to the school board, district spokeswoman Morgan Delack said.
Johnson was being held at the Depke Juvenile Justice Complex in Vernon Hills, and Hansen declined to comment on whether the family intended to post bond.
His next court date was set for Dec. 28.
lzumbach@tribpub.com
