A probable cause hearing has been set for March 28 in CopiahCounty Circuit Court in Hazlehurst to determine if charges can bemade against two Wesson Attendance Center principals for theirhandling of a gun-related school incident, law enforcementofficials said.

Wesson Police Chief Steve Carlisle alleges Wesson AttendanceCenter Principal Billy Britt and Elementary School Principal RonaldGreer violated state law in failing to notify his department when astudent was found with a handgun on the school’s campus Feb. 21. Healso alleges Britt obstructed justice by not cooperating in thepolice department’s investigation of the incident.

Under state law, before a teacher can be charged with committinga crime while in the performance of their duties, there must be aprobable cause hearing to determine if there is sufficientevidence. The law was enacted to protect certain positions ofauthority from undue incarceration.

The charges stem from an incident where a seventh-grade studentbrought a handgun from home onto the campus.

Britt has said the incident was not serious enough to warrantpolice intervention because the student never posed a danger toother students, had no bullets and never displayed the pistol in athreatening manner. He said he consulted the district’s attorneyand followed district policy.