Jonathan Cameron Coley, a Greensboro resident, received a 42-month prison sentence for a firearm offense. The announcement came from United States Attorney Sandra J. Hairston of the Middle District of North Carolina.
Coley, 26, admitted guilt on September 4, 2024, to possessing a firearm while being an unlawful user of a controlled substance.
Court records revealed that on April 13, 2024, an officer from the Greensboro Police Department (GPD) responded to Irving Park Elementary School at around 6:00 a.m. due to a burglar alarm. The officer discovered the gymnasium door propped open but found no suspicious activity inside. Surveillance footage later showed a blue Dodge Challenger arriving at the school at 5:23 a.m., with Coley identified as the suspect who entered and exited the premises armed with a long gun.
Coley was arrested on state warrants for breaking and entering and possession of a firearm on school grounds. During his arrest, officers noticed marijuana odor from his vehicle, leading to the discovery of various drug-related items. In subsequent interviews, Coley confessed to using methamphetamine multiple times daily.
The sentencing by Chief United States District Judge Catherine C. Eagles included three years of supervised release following imprisonment.
The investigation was conducted by the Greensboro Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney Nicole R. DuPré prosecuted the case.