Plea deal reached for teen accused of bringing loaded gun to Montgomery County school

ROCKVILLE, Md. - Montgomery County prosecutors have reached a plea agreement with a student who was accused of bringing a loaded gun and knife with him to Clarksburg High School, according to court records.

Records show the plea letter was sent to the defense team of 18-year-old Alwin Chen on March 26.

Officials said Chen brought the gun to school on several occasions and would carry it in a holster while sometimes wearing body armor. Prosecutors painted Chen as a troubled person who wrote in the journal that he is worthless and ready to die, according to the court documents.

After his arrest on Feb. 15, Chen told police he brought the gun to school to protect himself and others in case of a school shooting, court documents stated. His arrest came one day after the deadliest U.S. school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

Following his arrest, authorities said they found a cache of weapons inside his home, including two rifles, a shotgun, a ballistic vest, inert grenades, two handguns and a replica electrical firing device and ammunition. Chen was ordered to be held without bond.

According to court records, Chen has agreed to plead guilty to one count of carrying a handgun upon his person on public school property. Prosecutors have agreed to drop all other charges Chen faced as part of the agreement.

The prosecutor, citing an automated guideline system, will recommend a sentencing ranging from probation to 2 years in prison. The maximum sentence allowed under the law would be 3 years in prison.

A plea and sentencing hearing has been scheduled for April 24. Officials note that either the prosecutor or Chen can pull out of the plea agreement at sentencing.