Springfield student faces knife, pot charges

A Springfield High School student who was charged in March with the drive-by shooting of a classmate with a pellet gun faces new charges after he allegedly brought a knife and marijuana to school.
http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20130508/NEWS02/705089909

Springfield student faces knife, pot charges By ERIC FRANCIS CORRESPONDENT | May 08,2013 Rutland Herald PHOTO BY ERIC FRANCIS Orion Pfenning, 18, of Weathersfield, who pleaded innocent in March to misdemeanor charges of simple assault and reckless endangerment, was in court last week, facing more new charges. WHITE RIVER JUNCTION — A Springfield High School student who was charged in March with the drive-by shooting of a classmate with a pellet gun faces new charges after he allegedly brought a knife and marijuana to school. Orion Pfenning, 18, pleaded innocent last week to misdemeanor counts of possessing a weapon at school and possessing marijuana, then was released from White River Junction criminal court. In March he denied misdemeanor charges of simple assault and reckless endangerment for a Feb. 20 incident on Main Street near the movie theater in downtown Springfield. Ashley Morse, 18, told Springfield Police she and her sisters were crossing the street just before noon when Pfenning drove by in a black sport utility vehicle, yelled a curse and her name, and then shot at her with a pellet gun, striking her in the back of her arm. In the latest incident March 6, school officials told Springfield Police they received a tip from a student who said Pfenning was carrying marijuana. School officials asked Pfenning to empty his pockets, revealing a quarter-ounce baggie of marijuana, police said. Police Sgt. Greg Molgano wrote that a search of Pfenning’s jacket by school officials turned up a pocket knife, a marijuana grinder, rolling papers, a digital scale, a tobacco cigarette and five lighters. Molgano said Pfenning voluntarily came to the police station and confessed to possession of the items before police responded to the school. Pfenning now faces charges that carry a total maximum penalty of 3½ years in jail.