ORANGE COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- A 31-year-old man is facing child abuse charges a week after a loaded gun was found in a 6-year-old Orange Elementary School student's backpack. Just before 1 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 16, a loaded gun was found in a 6-year-old student's backpack by an instructional assistant. According to the Orange County Sheriff's Office, the assistant was helping the student unpack their bag, as they had arrived at school late. The school notified the sheriff's office immediately and an investigation was launched into how this incident occurred. In a previous statement from the sheriff's office, authorities said the child "never intended to use the firearm." "In fact, we believe that the student did not even know the firearm had been stashed in the backpack and was unaware of its existence," the sheriff's office said. ‘Inappropriate and immature’: Hanover County Sheriff’s Office reacts to weekend fights at Kings Dominion Just over a week later, on Tuesday, Sept. 24, the sheriff's office announced that 31-year-old Drakar L. Rawlings of Orange County was arrested in connection to this incident. According to the sheriff's office, Rawlings was charged with one count of allowing children access to a firearm, one count of abuse and neglect of children and two counts of possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. "This case has been a very convoluted and complicated one, involving many challenges that required many hours of investigation and effort by numerous members of the Orange Sheriff’s Office, but particularly the investigations section," the sheriff's office said. Rawlings is being held at Central Virginia Regional Jail with no bond. 8News reached out to the sheriff's office to learn more about Rawlings' relationship with the child. No other information is available at this time. This is a developing story, stay with 8News for updates.