now if a madman decides to come in and attack them they have noone to protect them……

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Thursday, Jan. 4, 2001
Judge suspends sentence for teacher who brought gun to school

MANASSAS, Va. (AP) – A former Prince William County teacher who brought a loaded gun to school will not go to jail.

Deena Esteban, 43, who taught art at Marumsco Hills Elementary School in Woodbridge, was ordered to pay a $2,000 fine Thursday. Circuit Judge Frank A. Hoss Jr. suspended a 12-month jail term.

A jury convicted Esteban in October of the felony of possessing a firearm on school property. The jurors recommended a 12-month sentence, although they asked the judge during deliberations if they could impose a suspended sentence. Hoss told the jurors they had no such authority.

Esteban said she brought the .38-caliber revolver to school by accident last March, forgetting that she had placed the gun in a large canvas bag. Another teacher found the bag unattended with the gun inside. Nobody was hurt.

Esteban was placed on administrative leave after the incident and her teaching contract was not renewed.

_AP-ES-01-04-01 1309EST _

Copyright 2001 Associated Press. All rights reserved.