Mustang Daily Staff Report
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The student whose rifle was found in his Sierra Madre Residence Hall room more than a week ago will not be facing charges, University Police Department (UPD) Chief George Hughes said Tuesday.
“Looking at the totality of the circumstances, criminal charges will not be filed against him,” Hughes said.
Hughes said he saw no threat to the Cal Poly community and so did not feel pressing charges would be beneficial to anyone involved.
“He was not a threat to this campus community whatsoever,” Hughes said. “We as a police department need to balance what the letter of the law and what the spirit of the law is, and to decide what is best for the campus community and for the individual. By pressing charges on this individual we did not think that we would be appropriately doing so.”
Hughes said the decision to not press charges rested with UPD. The case did not end up going to the district attorney.
“It was a combined decision between me and my staff,” Hughes said. “Ultimately, it falls on us as a police department to decide what’s best for the campus institution and the individual.”
The unnamed student did, however, leave the university and the city following this incident.
“He has voluntarily withdrawn from the institution and has left the campus and the city,” Hughes said.
According to Hughes, university administration did not become directly involved.
“They (the administration) knew about what was going on the entire time, but ultimately the decision was mine,” Hughes said.
Laura Pezzini contributed to this report.