21-year-old nonstudent arrested at Plant High

The principal finds him with two juveniles in a restroom.

By REBECCA CATALANELLO
Published August 22, 2007

TAMPA — A 21-year-old man was arrested Tuesday at Plant High School after the principal found him in a restroom with two juveniles, only one of whom was a student.

Rhett Sumner Jones of 4316 W San Luis St. had a 4-inch pocketknife with him, according to police, and was charged with trespassing with a weapon on school property.

Principal Robert Nelson first recognized something amiss when he smelled a foul odor, possibly smoke, coming from the entrance of the restroom, according to a police report.

Inside, Jones was with a Plant freshman who was skipping class and another juvenile who doesn't go to the school, Hillsborough schools spokesman Stephen Hegarty said.

Jones told police he was on campus to visit friends. When an officer found a pocketknife in the trash, Jones told them it belonged to him, according to the arrest report.

Hegarty said the Plant student involved was suspended. Police confirmed the other juvenile, who was 17, was also accused of trespassing.

Jones was released from jail Tuesday on $2,000 bail.

Jail records show he was charged in June with a lewd and lascivious battery, a case that is currently pending in court.

The school district spokesman said he was unaware of that prior arrest.

He said that Tuesday's incident would result in a review of campus security.

"Whenever there's a trespasser on campus, we look to see how they got on campus and if there's anything we can do to prevent it from happening again," he said.

The school district had no plans Tuesday to send a note home to parents regarding the incident, Hegarty said. "There were no students in any apparent danger," he said.

Rebecca Catalanello can be reached at (813) 226-3383 or rcatalanello@sptimes.com. 

[Last modified August 22, 2007, 00:56:08]