Felony Dismissed Against Woman Accused of School Threat
Rachel A. Gauntner, who allegedly threatened to bring a gun to Davey Elementary, now faces a misdemeanor aggravated menacing charge.
The aggravated menacing charge brought against Rachel A. Gauntner has been reduced from a fifth-degree felony to a first-degree misdemeanor, according to the Portage County Clerk of Courts Office.
The felony dismissal came when Gauntner appeared before Judge Barbara Oswick in Portage County Municipal Court on Feb. 11.
in a previous ruling, Oswick also prohibited Gauntner, 33, of Kent, from stepping on Davey Elementary grounds and banned her from any contact with students.
The same restrictions apply to Children's Advantage Counseling and Mental Health Center in Ravenna, Oswick ordered.
Gauntner was released on her own recognizance, and will remain out of jail, for the time being, so long as the court's conditions are met.
Gauntner will appear before Portage County Municipal Court Judge Barbara Oswick for a pretrial on Feb. 28.
Alleged school shooting threat
According to Kent police, Gauntner issued a violent threat on Jan. 31 while airing criticisms to a teacher about the level of education her special needs son was receiving.
The teacher and another eyewitness reported Gauntner even referenced the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre, said Kent Police Lt. Jim Prusha.
However, the teacher waited until the next morning (Feb. 1) to report the threat, saying she wanted to check with the school’s administration on how to proceed, Prusha added.
That decision, coupled with a lack of communication from the Kent City Schools about the incident, outraged parents who took to Patch's comment boards and aired their frustrations.
Gauntner was arrested on Feb. 1, and allowed police to search her residence.
No guns were found.
Read on:
Davey Shooting Threat Causes District to Address Communication
Trans Plant
6:53 am on Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Patch keeps repeating that the teacher waited until the next day to report the threat, but that is not true. The teacher did not wait until the next day. I don't think the teacher should be blamed for something she did not do.
Teresa K.
8:46 am on Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Trans Plant: do tell, WHO didnt report it? You've said that much, go a step further and tell who was told that should have reported it.
Its kind of jumbled to many of us reading about this. A "real" threat gets called in ASAP. With a real threat you go to the Principal, I imagine, and say "what should we do- are you calling it in or me?"
Real threats CANT wait til the next day. People want to know: who had the info and didnt call it in THAT day? You mentioned 3 times the teacher didn't wait. WHO did wait?
Paul Rotheray
9:41 am on Wednesday, February 20, 2013
It was shared with parents that the teacher did report it to the principal that day. It was the principal who made the decision to wait until the next day. The teacher did the right thing and her professional reputation should not be subject to speculation based on incomplete reporting.
James Thomas
9:59 am on Wednesday, February 20, 2013
"However, the teacher waited until the next morning (Feb. 1) to report the threat, saying she wanted to check with the school’s administration on how to proceed."
WRONG PATCH! Do you hacks have ANY editors? Do you EVER bother to get FACTS correct? My God no wonder you people write for Patch.
The students who write for Kent Stater and Buchtellite are more respected.
Matt Fredmonsky
11:59 am on Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Our information is according to Kent Police. The superintendent did not return our requests for comment when the story broke, and a Patch reporter was denied access to a public school meeting on the topic.
Paul Rotheray
12:35 pm on Wednesday, February 20, 2013
So when they invite you to a meeting to request your help in promoting their school levy, I hope you tell them, "access denied"!
silly sally
5:06 pm on Wednesday, February 20, 2013
i wouldn't let a patch reporter in either, they clearly are not real reporters and have no real literary cred, they're just shock mongers and opportunists looking for more "hits" on their website.