SOUTH GATE : Ex-Teacher Convicted of Having Gun on Campus

A former kindergarten teacher at Montara Street Elementary School was convicted last week of possession of a handgun on campus and making terrorist threats to teachers who turned him in.

After a four-day trial in Norwalk Superior Court, the jury took just 80 minutes on June 27 to reach guilty verdicts on four felony counts against Raymond Jett Jr., 36, who was arrested Feb. 24 for having a handgun under the driver’s seat of his car in the school’s faculty parking lot. He posted bail and was rearrested a day later for allegedly threatening to “end the careers” of several teachers at the school whom he suspected of turning him in.

“This is a bizarre case,” said Marc Merrick, the deputy district attorney who argued the case. “And a serious crime.”

Merrick said that Jett “admitted having the gun on campus and admitted being on bail while he made the phone (threat).”

Merrick said that Jett has a permit for the gun found in his car, and authorities are trying to locate permits for the weapons found at his house.

Jett’s attorney, Robert McDaniel, said he will decide whether to appeal the case after a sentencing hearing July 18. Jett faces up to 10 years in prison.