FRANKLIN COUNTY, Va. (rbs news now) — A Franklin County man has been arrested after deputies say a firearm was found inside his child’s backpack at a local private daycare Monday morning.

According to the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, staff at the daycare discovered the firearm around 8:30 a.m. on October 13 and immediately contacted authorities.

Deputies responded to the facility and began investigating the incident.

Through their investigation, deputies determined that Dylan Scott Whorley, 27, of Bedford, had placed the firearm in the backpack earlier that morning as a way to carry it to his vehicle but forgot to remove it before dropping his child off at the daycare.

Authorities said the child did not intentionally bring the weapon to the facility.

Whorley was arrested and charged with one felony count of abuse/neglect of a child, one felony count of firearm possession on school property, and one misdemeanor count of allowing access to firearms by children.

Whorley is being held without bond at the Franklin County Jail.

In a statement, the sheriff’s office commended the daycare’s staff for their quick action.

“The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office would like to commend the daycare staff for their immediate response and for contacting authorities promptly, which ensured the safety of all children and staff,” the department said.

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