KESHENA, WI (WTAQ) – A first-year teacher in the Menominee Indian School District has been charged with possession firearm on grounds of a school.
34-year-old Jarrod Kuehn of Neenah appeared in Shawano-Menominee County Circuit Court Tuesday afternoon on the felony charge.
According to the criminal complaint, Kuehn told police he didn’t know he couldn’t have the gun in his car on school grounds.
Kuehn says he uses the gun for target practice on Monday nights. He knew he couldn’t bring the gun into the school, but didn’t realize the prohibition extended into the parking lot.
Another staff member told school administration about the gun. Kuehn then showed it to school officials.
The gun was found in the center console of the vehicle but it was not a locked case. One of the exemptions to the prohibition of having a gun on school property is if the unloaded gun is in a vehicle encased or in a locked firearms rack, per state law.
The defense attorney said in court they would argue the locked console counts under the exemption. The judge denied a motion to dismiss the case on those grounds but the issue may be raised again.
Kuehn teaches technical education at the school and has been placed on administrative leave.
According to a statement provided to FOX 11, Superintendent Wendall Waukau said the teacher had a firearm inside his vehicle parked at the back of the school.
“We do not have any information at this time that would lead us to believe the teacher had any bad intent or motive in having the handgun in his vehicle. The teacher has a valid concealed carry permit and the firearm was unloaded,” Waukau said.
Kuehn was released on a signature bond. A balance of his initial appearance is scheduled for Monday.
