Pownal woman charged after child brings loaded gun and ammo to school

A woman from Pownal is facing charges after her young child brought a loaded handgun to school last week. The Bennington County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Crystal Mahar was cited for negligent firearm storage after the incident at Pownal Elementary School. Last Wednesday, a student was removed from class after a 9mm handgun and 67 rounds of ammunition were found in their backpack. Authorities say the student had sent a message about the gun on social media, prompting another student to alert school officials. The court date for Mahar is not yet clear, and authorities are continuing their investigation into the matter.