YOUNGSTOWN — A 14-year-old student at East High School was taken to the Mahoning County Juvenile Justice Center Tuesday after school officials reportedly found a loaded gun in his book bag.

The boy was arraigned Wednesday in Mahoning County Juvenile Court on charges of carrying a concealed weapon and illegal conveyance or possession of a deadly weapon in a school safety zone and possession of a deadly weapon in a school safety zone. Both are low-level felony offenses.

The boy entered a “denial” of the charges at his arraignment, the juvenile equivalent of not guilty, and he remains in juvenile custody. His next hearing will be 1 p.m. Dec. 3.

A Youngstown police report states that a Mahoning County sheriff’s deputy working security at the school was asked to check the auditorium at 1:50 p.m. Tuesday and found the student hiding under the counter of the lower control room.

The officer ordered the student to come out, but the boy “didn’t move,” the report states. He did eventually come out. Then the deputy found that two other boys were behind a cabinet.

The officer escorted the boys to the office. Adam Loudin, assistant principal, stated that he was going to check backpacks, resulting in the first youth becoming very nervous and started sweating and shaking, the report states.

Loudin had to leave for a short time to deal with another incident. The officer was concerned because of the boy’s actions and because of a Nov. 15 drug exposure incident in which a student was rushed to the hospital, so the officer asked the teen if there was anything illegal in his backpack, the report states.

Eventually, the officer felt a gun inside of the teen’s backpack and brought the backpack into the room and pulled out a loaded, semi-automatic handgun from the backpack with a live round in the chamber.

The officer handcuffed the teen, and a Youngstown police officer took the teen to the juvenile detention center.

When Stacy Quinones, Youngstown City Schools spokesperson, was asked about the case and security measures in place to prevent guns from getting into the school, she replied, “The district does indeed have a comprehensive security plan in place, which is implemented when and if needed.”

She also provided the information given to parents about the episode: “A scholar possessed a gun, which was not wielded at any time. East High School followed all emergency plan operations involving law enforcement.

“We understand your concern as parents and guardians,” the letter stated. “Please be assured that everyone is safe, the building is secure and the weapon was never discharged. Appropriate action will be taken according to district policy, as any incident involving a weapon is taken seriously.

“Youngstown City Schools is committed to a safe environment for all scholars and staff. We encourage you to have an open conversation with your child about the importance of reporting any concerns they may have regarding school safety.”