Gloucester County, VA – In a case that many believe should never have been prosecuted, a jury in Gloucester County found four men NOT GUILTY of carrying firearms on school property. This verdict highlights what some see as an unjust legal battle driven by political motivations and demonstrates how “the process is the punishment.”
The four men, Trevor Herrin, Derek Coblentz, Christopher Cordasco, and Antonio Hernandez, were charged after attending a school board meeting at the T.C. Walker Education Center on July 11, 2023. They carried concealed firearms into the meeting, which was held off school grounds as defined by Virginia law.
Despite this, they were prosecuted under the accusation of carrying guns onto school property.
Gloucester County Commonwealth’s Attorney John T. Dusewicz, a Republican, pushed forward with the charges, asserting the importance of keeping guns out of schools.
However, the jury saw it differently, taking just over an hour to acquit the men. The quick verdict underscored the weak basis of the prosecution’s case.
Trevor Herrin, who faced an additional misdemeanor charge for carrying a concealed weapon with an expired permit, was sentenced to 30 days in jail for that offense. His defense and that of his co-defendants rested on the fact that the meeting was not held during the operational hours of the Head Start program located in the building, which was closed for the summer.
The defense attorneys pointed to state law, which allows for exceptions when childcare centers are not in operation. The prosecution’s insistence that the Head Start program constituted a school did not sway the jury, who sided with the clear wording of the law.
The arrest and prosecution of these men sparked outrage among gun-rights advocates, who saw it as a politically motivated attack. The incident also drew attention to the broader issue of prosecutorial overreach and the impact of political influence in legal matters.
“This case was a clear example of overzealous prosecution,” said Derek Coblentz after the verdict. “It should never have gone this far, and it shows how the legal system can be weaponized against law-abiding citizens.”
Antonio Hernandez added, “We were exercising our rights, and we knew we were within the bounds of the law. This prosecution was an attempt to punish us through the process itself.”
Gloucester Sheriff Darrell Warren, who had ordered the confiscation of the men’s firearms, defended the actions of his deputies and the decision to press charges. “Our priority is keeping schools safe, but in this case, the jury has spoken, and we respect their decision.”
The case has become a rallying point for gun-rights supporters who argue that the legal system should not be used to punish individuals for political reasons. The swift acquittal by the jury sends a strong message about the importance of adhering to the letter of the law and not succumbing to political pressures.
This case serves as a reminder that legal battles can have profound impacts on individuals’ lives and rights, and it underscores the need for vigilance in protecting those rights against unjust prosecution. Never Back Down!
“Our priority is keeping schools safe, but in this case, the jury has spoken, and we respect their decision.”
That statement doesn’t give me confidence that this sheriff learned anything. “In this case” sounds like there might be a next case.
he should be charged with title 18 241 and 242 jailed 20 years for each of these men
When one of the men stood up to speak, his shirt rode up over his gun. He was unaware of that as he stood at the podium addressing the school board, but he was noticed.
seems like the prosecutor is in the wrong party and in need of a change in employment. if he as a jd cannot read a statute and comprehend the clear meaning, maybe that position is the right fit for him.
political party aside, the government will use one of the excessive number of laws to bludgeon you with if they don’t like your behavior or speech.
Virginia’s jury got it right. I guess they weren’t in a democrap stronghold territory county.
In Oregoneistan, any school or business can claim gun free zone. Get caught carrying with a permit or not and it can be 250,000 and a 10 year felony sentence. This needs to be challenged as unconstitutional. The law that you cannot have a gun within1,000 feet of a school was found unconstitutional so why is it that the states seem to think they can force this law?
I call BS.
Trump/Vance 2024
Don’t worry about the GOP! Before they’d fight dirty, they’d give the country to the leftists. Even Hillary Rodent Clinton backed them down.