A Portsmouth man is facing a pile of felony charges after prosecutors say a night involving underage drinking, marijuana, and a loaded handgun ended with a 17-year-old shot in the abdomen.
A Scioto County grand jury indicted George Duran on charges including felonious assault, endangering children, corrupting another with drugs, improperly handling firearms in a vehicle, furnishing a firearm to a minor, and contributing to the unruliness or delinquency of a child. The indictment also includes multiple firearm specifications.
But the child-endangerment allegation tells the most troubling part of the story.
According to the original court complaint, prosecutors allege Duran was responsible for a 17-year-old and created a substantial risk to the teen’s safety by taking a Glock 19 handgun from his backpack and leaving it in plain view on a nightstand.
The complaint says a 12-year-old who had been provided alcohol gained access to the gun, pulled the trigger, and shot the 17-year-old in the abdomen.
The grand jury indictment says the child-endangering offense resulted in serious physical harm.
Booze, Marijuana and a Gun
The allegations go beyond leaving a firearm where a child could reach it.
Prosecutors also accuse Duran of furnishing marijuana to a juvenile.
The earlier complaint says he allegedly purchased tequila for underage children and provided marijuana for them to smoke.
The grand jury also charged him with improperly furnishing a firearm to a minor and contributing to the delinquency of a child.
And prosecutors allege the Glock was not just accessible inside the home.
Duran was also indicted on two counts of improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle, including allegations that he discharged a firearm from a vehicle and transported a loaded gun where it was accessible to the driver or passenger.
Teen Seriously Hurt
The felonious assault charge alleges Duran knowingly caused or attempted to cause physical harm to the 17-year-old with the Glock 19.
The indictment includes firearm specifications and seeks forfeiture of the handgun prosecutors say was used or involved in the offenses.
Duran had already appeared in Portsmouth Municipal Court on the child-endangering charge before the grand jury indictment. Court records show he was ordered held under a $50,000 bond in that case.
The allegations paint a grim picture of adults failing at the most basic job around children: keeping dangerous things out of their hands.
According to prosecutors, these children were allegedly given alcohol and marijuana, had access to a handgun, and one teenager ended the night with a bullet wound.
The charges are allegations. Duran is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
