An 18-year-old male was charged Wednesday, Feb. 1, for bringing a knife into Mars Area High School, according to Adams Township police.

Joseph Cotte-Rocco, of Mars, was charged with misdemeanor possession of a weapon on school property following an incident around 9:45 a.m. Wednesday.

According to charging documents, police responded to the school when administration received a complaint where a student was bragging about having a knife. Officials told police the student also talked about burning the building down.

The student, identified as Cotte-Rocco, was cooperative with police and was escorted from the classroom, according to reports.

When asked, Cotte-Rocco told police he had a knife and was subsequently searched. According to documents, the knife had a five-inch blade and was found in his front sweatshirt pocket.

Police said no other weapons were found on Cotte-Rocco or in his backpack.

Cotte-Rocco told administration he brought the knife to school to show a friend, according to police.

Cotte-Rocco’s preliminary hearing is scheduled Feb. 21 before District Judge Amy Marcinkiewicz. He was released under a $10,000 unsecured bond and issued a no-contact order for the high school.