PRESCOTT – A construction worker doing work at Prescott Middle School was arrested for possessing a gun on school grounds after officers smelled marijuana coming from his truck.

Alextron Arnes McAfee, 39, Warm Springs, Ga., was ordered to pay $500 cash bond Oct. 22 in Pierce County Circuit Court on felony possess firearm on grounds of school, possession of THC (possession of a controlled substance on or near certain places) and possess drug paraphernalia charges. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 3.5 years in prison and/or fines up to $10,000.

According to the complaint:

At 10:59 a.m. Oct. 21, the Prescott school resource officer was at Prescott Middle School (1220 St. Croix St.) As he walked out of a door on the east side of the building, he could smell marijuana coming from a pickup truck with Georgia plates parked next to his squad. There were no other vehicles near the truck.

The officer informed the principal of the marijuana smell; he too walked outside to the truck and smelled it. Since the truck belonged to a construction crew member performing referendum work in the school gym, the principal contacted the school district buildings and grounds supervisor.

Police located the truck’s owner, McAfee, in the school gym. They walked outside to the truck, where McAfee told officers he’d been smoking cigarettes in the vehicle earlier. He allowed police to search it and they found a baggie full of 9 mm ammunition in the center console, along with an SCCY 9 mm handgun. The gun had a round in the chamber. Police removed that round and the magazine, which also had rounds inside. In the backseat, police found a burnt rolled-up paper with marijuana inside.

Officers told McAfee he was under arrest due to not having a conceal and carry permit and having the gun on school grounds. He began to curse at officers and asked if they were taking the gun. They confiscated the gun and put it into evidence along with several rounds of ammunition. McAfee’s money and credit cards were turned over to his brother before his transport to Pierce County Jail.

McAfee is scheduled to appear at a status conference at 10 a.m. Nov. 18.