SOUTH GATE : Teacher Who Took Gun to School Gets 7 Years
A kindergarten teacher convicted for bringing a loaded gun to school and making terrorist threats against colleagues who turned him in has been sentenced to a maximum seven years in prison.
Raymond Jett Jr., 36, was arrested Feb. 24 at Montara Street Elementary School for having a handgun under the driver’s seat of his car in the school’s faculty parking lot.
He posted $20,000 bail on firearm possession charges and was released that afternoon. He was arrested again the next day when he returned to the school and threatened to “end the careers” of several teachers and the principal, prosecutors said.
Jett, who was convicted on four felony counts July 18 by a Norwalk Superior Court jury, began teaching at Montara Elementary in February. He had been employed by the school district since 1986, largely as a substitute teacher. According to documents submitted in the case, Jett previously had been reprimanded for teaching kindergarten classes in camouflage clothing.
After his arrests, a group of parents expressed support for Jett, describing him as a fine teacher.
School Principal Juliana Dawson declined to comment on Jett’s sentencing.
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