Last Updated on March 25, 2026 10:22 pm
WEST JEFFERSON, N.C. — A parent has been arrested and charged after a firearm was found inside a student's backpack at Westwood Elementary School on Wednesday, according to the Ashe County Sheriff's Office.
Sheriff B. Phil Howell announced that Stephanie Marshburn Zandiotis, 44, of West Jefferson, was taken into custody and booked at the Ashe County Detention Center on a $5,000 unsecured bond.
According to the sheriff's office, a student unknowingly brought the firearm into the school concealed in a pocket of his backpack during school hours. The school's resource officer and school officials discovered the item and immediately took action to ensure the safety of students and staff.
A joint investigation conducted by Ashe County School officials and the Sheriff's Office concluded that the student was unaware the firearm was in the backpack at all times. Investigators also determined the student had no ill will or criminal intent, and no charges will be filed against the child. The investigation remains ongoing, and additional charges against the parent may follow.
“It does not matter how a firearm makes its way into our schools, whether it was brought from home, obtained from another individual, or accessed in any other way; our responsibility is to ensure the safety of our students and staff. Any violation of the law will be addressed, and appropriate charges will be pursued based on the circumstances of each case. Our schools remain a safe place for learning, and we will continue to take necessary steps to protect them.” — Sheriff B. Phil Howell, Ashe County Sheriff's Office
Zandiotis was booked on the following charges:
- G.S. 14-269.2 — (Felony) Weapons on campus or other educational property
- G.S. 14-269(a1) — (Misdemeanor) Carrying Concealed Weapon
