Charged with criminal trespassing and possession of a controlled substance, Zachery Leonard, 30, from New Beaver, faces severe legal challenges after entering West Hempfield Elementary property in Hempfield Township on Thursday morning. According to TribLIVE, Leonard had been dropped off at a nearby gas station by state police following an incident in the community earlier that day.
The events unfolded as students arrived at school, causing some commotion. WPXI reported that school officials and the school police instructed Leonard to leave the property, but he allegedly defied these commands. The situation escalated when school police discovered a plastic bag of suspected crystal meth on the grounds believed to have been discarded by Leonard. He was arrested and taken to Pennsylvania State Police Headquarters in Greensburg.
Hempfield Area Superintendent Mark Holtzman spoke about the incident, stating that state police dealt with Leonard before arriving at the elementary school. In a statement detailed by TribLIVE, Holtzman explained, "Our SRO is always present," and added, "I’m not concerned," regarding ongoing safety at the school. After Leonard's arrest, the principal and security resource officer thoroughly swept the grounds as a precaution.
Despite the alarming nature of a trespassing incident in a school environment, measures were in place to ensure the safety of the students and faculty at West Hempfield Elementary. District Judge Joseph DeMarchis arraigned Leonard, and bail was denied. He is currently being held in Westmoreland County Prison, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for November 7.
