The Marietta Daily Journal – DA to dismiss felony charge against teen

MARIETTA — Lassiter High senior Cody Chitwood’s hobby, fishing, almost got him in trouble, deep trouble, when he forgot some fishing knives in his car and drove to school one day last month.

He stood accused of violating Georgia’s zero-tolerance law for weapons on school campuses and faced two to 10 years in prison and fines of up to $10,000 if convicted.

But he was relieved to hear from his lawyer Tuesday that District Attorney Vic Reynolds has agreed on a deal that will result in the felony charge being dismissed.

Chitwood, 17, will be enrolled in Cobb County’s pretrial diversion program. He may have to do community service and submit to random drug tests, but that beats a ruinous felony conviction that would have haunted him the rest of his life.

He’s also back at school after serving a 10-day suspension.

“It’s good to be back,” he said.

And his plans to enter the Air Force are also back on track.

“My plans are to go in the Air Force, or go to KSU and go through their ROTC program,” he said. “But either way, my long-term goal is to be in the Air Force.”

Working to rid Georgia of ‘zero tolerance’

Reynolds said he is working with state Sen. Lindsey Tippins (R-west Cobb) and others to change Georgia’s heavy-handed zero-tolerance law.

“In all candor these cases, it’s more of a policy call and the legislators are going to have to look real hard at that law and see if they want it to stay the way it is,” Reynolds said. “But I’m not a real fan of zero-tolerance laws.

“I’ve talked with Sen. Tippins and he’s asked me to help him come up with some language that would put common sense back into the law, and we’re in the process of doing that. We’re just trying to get a little horse sense back in the law.”