Teacher pleads not guilty

A Costa Mesa woman accused of having a gun on school grounds and keeping it within the reach of children pleaded not guilty Wednesday.

Jayne DeArmond, 51, is charged with felony counts of possessing a gun on school grounds and child endangerment by a caretaker. She faces up to six years and four months in state prison, prosecutors said.

DeArmond, who taught third grade at Diamond Elementary School, is still employed by the Santa Ana Unified School District and is on leave, according to prosecutors. School district spokeswoman Angela Burrell would not specify whether she is still being paid.

DeArmond’s students were looking for a staple remover inside a drawer and found the weapon, officials said.

“From the information that we have she directed a student to the drawer,” Deputy Dist. Atty. Randy Pawloski said.

The gun was not loaded, he said. One of the students who found the gun told the computer lab’s assistant, who in turn told the principal, prosecutors said. The principal called police.

The judge ordered DeArmond not to go on any school’s property in the county and not to have contact with any school employees, court officials said. She is also prohibited from having a gun. It is not clear whether DeArmond has a permit to carry a gun, Pawloski said. Even if a teacher has a permit to carry a gun, Santa Ana school district regulations require teachers to get permission from the superintendent to carry it on campus, Pawloski said.

DeArmond’s pretrial hearing is scheduled for June 6.

JOSEPH SERNA may be reached at (714) 966-4619 or at joseph.serna@latimes.com.