Guns at high school part of drug deal, police allege

PONTIAC -- Two high school students arrested after six handguns were found at their school were charged as adults Wednesday in an alleged plan to sell the weapons for money and cocaine.

Sean Sullivan, 16, of Odell, and Martin Huerta Jr., 15, of Saunemin, each were charged with six counts of possessing handguns on a school bus and six counts of possessing handguns at a school, authorities said. Huerta also faces a charge of cocaine possession.

They are being held on $500,000 bond each.

Sullivan admitted talking to Huerta about buying the guns for $100 each and discussed using cocaine as payment for one weapon, authorities said. No ammunition was recovered, and the guns weren't loaded.

Sullivan was carrying the guns in a backpack on a school bus Tuesday when another student spotted the weapons and alerted a police officer assigned to the school, authorities said.

Police said they found an eighth of an ounce of cocaine in Huerta's home.

Sullivan, Huerta and a third student were arrested Tuesday during a lockdown at Pontiac Township High School, after police found the guns in a backpack in the locker.

"When the investigation began, we had the weapons recovered within six minutes of the whole thing," Pontiac police Maj. Jim Woolford said. "It was pretty much well in hand from the get-go when the information was received."

The third student was being processed in juvenile court, Livingston County State's Attorney Thomas J. Brown said. Brown would not say whether that student was involved in the incident or would be charged.

Pontiac Township High School was in session Wednesday and school officials held a series of assemblies for students and parents to address concerns, Woolford said.

An additional police presence was in the school as well to complement the school's one full-time officer, Woolford said.