NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — The mom of a 6-year-old boy who shot his instructor in Virginia pleaded responsible Tuesday to a cost of felony baby neglect, seven months after her son used her handgun to critically wound the educator in a classroom full of scholars.

Prosecutors agreed to drop a misdemeanor cost of reckless storage of a firearm in opposition to Deja Taylor. As a part of the plea settlement, prosecutors mentioned they won't search a sentence that's longer than state sentencing pointers, which name for six months in jail or jail.

The crime is punishable by as much as 5 years in jail. A decide could have full discretion when he finally decides the size of Taylor’s sentence. A sentencing listening to is scheduled for Oct. 27.

The January taking pictures shocked the nation and roiled this shipbuilding metropolis close to the Chesapeake Bay. The case in opposition to Taylor is one in all three authorized efforts searching for accountability, together with the instructor’s $40 million lawsuit that accuses the college system of gross negligence for failing to reply aggressively to a number of warnings the kid had introduced a gun to high school that day.

Police mentioned the primary grader deliberately shot instructor Abby Zwerner as she sat at a studying desk throughout a lesson. Zwerner, who was hit within the hand and chest, spent almost two weeks within the hospital and has endured a number of surgical procedures.

Moments after the taking pictures, in response to search warrants filed within the case, the kid instructed a studying specialist who restrained him: “I shot that (expletive) dead,” and “I got my mom’s gun last night.”

Police mentioned the coed introduced the gun to high school in his backpack, however it had been unclear precisely how the 6-year-old obtained the gun.

During Taylor’s plea listening to Tuesday, prosecutor Joshua Jenkins mentioned the boy instructed authorities he obtained the gun by climbing onto a drawer to succeed in the highest of a dresser, the place the gun was saved in his mom’s purse. Those particulars have been contained in a “stipulation of facts,” a listing of details that each side agree are true.

When police arrived on the college that day, they entered the classroom and noticed the boy being restrained by the studying specialist, in response to the stipulation of details doc Jenkins learn aloud in courtroom.

The boy used a profanity and mentioned “I shot my teacher,” earlier than breaking free and punching the studying specialist within the face, the doc states.

The gun was on the ground close by. “My mom had that. ….I stole it because I needed to shoot my teacher,” the boy mentioned, in response to the doc.

The doc mentioned the boy had been identified with a defiance dysfunction. He had beforehand taken his mom’s automotive keys from her purse, which prompted her to place her keys in a lock field. But she continued to maintain her gun in her purse, the doc states.

The stipulation of details additionally cited a report from Child Protective Services, which indicated the kid had performed with a gun at his grandmother’s home final yr.

“When interviewed in reference to that incident, (the boy) reported that he ‘wanted to visit a gun range,’” in response to the stipulation of details.

After the taking pictures at Richneck Elementary School, Taylor instructed police she believed her gun was in her purse, secured with a set off lock, in response to search warrants. She mentioned she stored the gunlock key beneath her bed room mattress. But brokers with Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives mentioned they by no means discovered a set off lock after conducting searches, in response to federal courtroom paperwork. The stipulation of details additionally mentioned there was no gun protected or set off lock discovered throughout searches by authorities.

Dressed in a jean jacket and resting her left hand in opposition to her hip, Taylor didn't communicate throughout the plea listening to besides to reply questions from the decide about whether or not she understood the continuing. She spoke softly and was requested by the decide to boost her voice.

In June, Taylor pleaded responsible in a separate however associated federal case to utilizing marijuana whereas possessing a firearm, which is unlawful beneath U.S. regulation.

Taylor was charged in April by prosecutors in Newport News with felony baby neglect and a misdemeanor rely of recklessly storing of a firearm.

Taylor’s legal professional, James Ellenson, mentioned on the time that there have been “mitigating circumstances,” together with her miscarriages and postpartum melancholy earlier than the taking pictures. Ellenson mentioned Tuesday he'll tackle melancholy and nervousness points at Taylor’s sentencing listening to.

Taylor instructed ABC’s “Good Morning America” in May that she feels accountable and apologized to Zwerner.

“That is my son, so I am, as a parent, obviously willing to take responsibility for him because he can’t take responsibility for himself,” Taylor mentioned.

Her son has attention-deficit/hyperactivity dysfunction and was beneath a care plan that included a member of the family accompanying him to class on daily basis, Ellenson mentioned.

The week of the taking pictures was the primary when a mother or father was not at school with him. The change was made as a result of the boy had began treatment and was assembly his targets academically, Taylor mentioned.

“I just truly would like to apologize,” Taylor mentioned on the present.

Virginia’s regulation on felony baby neglect says any mother or father, guardian or different individual chargeable for the care of a kid “whose willful act or omission in the care of such child was so gross, wanton, and culpable as to show a reckless disregard for human life” is responsible of a Class 6 felony.

Ellenson mentioned in courtroom Tuesday that the boy is now within the care of his great-grandfather.

• Lavoie reported from Richmond, Virginia.

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