In the month of June Brady-Dutton Superintendent of Schools Tim Tharp carried a weapon into the Dutton School during a privately organized  basketball camp.

Tharp is a Reserve Deputy with the Teton County program,  which was confirmed by Sheriff George Anderson. He noted that Tharp is licensed to carry a weapon if he is working for the department in uniform.

Tharp told the I-O on Monday that, “The incident happened in June. I was kind of blindsided. The first I heard about it was in August.”

The superintendent explained that he had come to the school directly from the (firing) range where he had been qualifying with his pistol. “My interpretation is that it was entirely legal,” and he had been qualifying in civilian clothes. “There is nothing illegal about it.”

While he was in civilian clothes, Tharp says going from duty to the school, he wasn’t required to be in uniform.

He said the incident was discussed with the school board of trustees and he informed them, “That no ill will was intended.”  Asked if any disciplinary action was taken, he said he did not want to comment, citing privacy laws.

School laws of Montanan 45-8-361 (1) says A person commits the offense of possession of a weapon in a school building if the person purposely and knowingly possesses, carries, or stores a weapon in a school building.

(4) (a) A person convicted under this section shall be fined an amount not to exceed $500, imprisoned in the county jail for a term not to exceed six months, or both. The court shall consider alternatives to the incarceration that are available in the community.

(b) “weapon” means any type of firearm,…”

Kurt Dyer, school board chairman said on Tuesday that a letter of reprimand was placed in his personnel file.