Mom of 6-year-old who shot Va. teacher to plead guilty in new federal case

[Mosby]

The mother of a 6-year-old boy who shot a teacher at a Virginia elementary school in January was charged Monday with federal gun offenses, and her attorney said she plans to enter guilty pleas to the new counts as part of a deal with prosecutors.

Deja Taylor, 26, of Newport News, Va., was charged in federal court in Newport News with illegally using drugs while possessing a firearm and making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm, according to a criminal information. Federal law bars those who use illegal drugs from possessing firearms, and the charge alleges that Taylor did not disclose to authorities that she used marijuana when she bought a gun.

Taylor was charged in state court in April with a felony count of child neglect and a misdemeanor count of recklessly storing a firearm so a child could gain access to it in connection with the high-profile shooting at Newport News’s Richneck Elementary School. Authorities say the boy used a handgun purchased by Taylor to shoot his first-grade teacher, 25-year-old Abigail Zwerner.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2023/06/05/deja-taylor-federal-charges-richneck-elementary-shooting/

[SYFROYH]

1. Question G on Form 4473

From form 4473, the war on drugs question:

g. Are you an unlawful user of, or addicted to, marijuana or any depressant, stimulant, narcotic drug, or any other controlled substance? Warning: The use or possession of marijuana remains unlawful under Federal law regardless of whether it has been legalized or decriminalized for medicinal or recreational purposes in the state where you reside.

I was content that the mother was charged with neglect and another related offense. This seems like a reach.

[RockRaven]

2. Doesn't seem like a reach to me. It's clearly illegal, and spelled out as such in the question.

Whether or not marijuana should be illegal at the federal level is a separate question.

False answers on government forms is a crime in all kinds of circumstances, many of which (George Santos for example) are celebrated as appropriate prosecutions on DU.

[SYFROYH]

3. I mean, how do they know she was using that day? Maybe she admitted it.

[Mr.Bill]

4. I could answer no to that question

because, you know, I quit weed yesterday. I also know a number of people with carry permits. They all smoke weed.