A 15-year-old student at Newburgh Free Academy was suspended for a year after school officials say he was caught ditching a pocketknife on school grounds.

Michael Boone, 15, says the knife belonged to his sister who realized she had it with her on their way to school. Boone says he tried to get rid of the knife so his sister wouldn?t get into trouble. A security guard saw Boone burying the knife.

School officials say they are sticking to a zero tolerance policy on the possession of any weapon on school property especially after one student stabbed another with a pocket knife in January.

Boone?s parents plan on hiring a lawyer to help reduce the penalty.