Barrington High gun case goes back to juvenile court

Felony weapons charges against a Barrington High School student were dismissed Wednesday, sending his case back to juvenile court, officials said.

Kyle Robert Johnson, now 17, is accused of bringing a .357 magnum revolver and ammunition to the campus Nov. 30. Johnson's case will be petitioned to juvenile court, said Cynthia Vargas, spokeswoman for the Lake County State's Attorney's Office. But, because the case has been referred back to juvenile court, Vargas said she is not allowed to discuss details of the case.

Court records show Johnson also was charged with possession of a firearm in a public place and possession of a controlled substance. Had he been found guilty of the most severe charges in adult court, he could have been sentenced to a maximum 5 years in prison.

Johnson was never in custody at Lake County jail despite the felony charges. Instead, he was held at the Depke Juvenile Detention Center near Vernon Hills.

His next court date is unknown at this time.

Johnson was arrested after a staff member at Barrington High School saw a handgun fall out of a student's backpack in a school bathroom, authorities said. The staff member alerted administrators, who enacted a school lockdown.

Officials used video surveillance to identify Johnson as the armed student. He was taken into custody without incident.

Police said Johnson also had 38 Strattera pills, three Xanax bars, hallucinogenic mushrooms and marijuana when he was arrested.