A Burke County Sheriff's Office School Resource Deputy and a school official dealt with an incident involving a juvenile at a Burke County School Tuesday morning, where a firearm was on school property. The Morganton News Herald reports that the incident occurred at Table Rock Middle involving a sixth-grader. The unloaded weapon was removed from the student. There were no injuries and the investigaton is continuing with juvenile authorities, according to the Sheriff's Office.

A Newton teenager escapes the death penalty in a Catawba County murder charge. Lennon Riley Henderson, 16, appeared in Catawba County Superior Court Tuesday, where state prosecutors announced that they will not seek capital punishment. Henderson is charged with the murder of Harry Lewis Bruner, Jr., 40. Published reports say Bruner's body was discovered in his home near Maiden after firefighters responded to a fire at the residence. A search warrant reportedly revealed Bruner was killed after being shot in the head with a shotgun. A news release states the law does not allow the state to pursue the death penalty for Henderson because of his age. His nex court apperance is in January. The Catawba County Sheriff's Office continues to investigate the case.

A Marion registered sex offender is charged with possession of child pornography. The McDowell County Sheriff's Office reported Tuesday that Dakota Guy Russell was charged after a search of his residence on September 1st. Russell is also on probation.

A Winston-Salem man was given an active prison term of six to nine years during Catawba County Superior Court on Monday, following his guilty plea to breaking and entering, larceny and admission to being a habitual felon. Herbert Vernal Stanback, 61, had his prison term enhanced by prior felony convictions for larceny of a motor vehicle in Mecklenburg County (October 1985), escape from state prison in Mecklenburg (October 1990) and larceny in Union County (December 2004).