Jake Howell (LVMPD)LAS VEGAS (FOX5) -
An 18-year-old who was arrested with a rifle in his car at a Las Vegas school campus waived his right to a preliminary hearing and is expected to plead guilty to a lesser charge.
Jake Howell appeared in Las Vegas Justice Court on Tuesday for a preliminary hearing connected to his Dec. 21 arrest at Northwest Technical Academy.
According to Las Vegas Metro police, Howell was charged with five counts of possession of a dangerous weapon on school property.
Clark County Courts told FOX5 he agreed to a psychiatric evaluation. His next court appearance was set for Jan. 22.
Howell was arrested when he was on the campus with an SKS rifle, ammunition rounds, a bayonet, knife, military uniforms and survival materials, police said.
Clark County School District police said officers learned of a possible retaliatory attack at the campus after the arrest of a former student, Steven Fernandes.
Howell told police that he and Fernandes formed a militia group known as the 327th Recon Unit of Nevada. Howell, though, denied any intention of carrying out an attack at the school and was merely there to visit friends and former teachers as well as show off his recently acquired rifle, according to police.
Stay tuned to FOX5 for the latest on this developing story.
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