ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, March 20, 1996 TAG: 9603200042
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: FLOYD
SOURCE: LISA APPLEGATE STAFF WRITER
The Floyd County School Board expelled two high school students Monday in connection with the explosion of a homemade bomb in a boys' locker room toilet two weeks ago.
The two ninth-grade boys, who also face criminal charges for the explosion, met with the School Board during a closed-door meeting. Superintendent Terry Arbogast said both teens were "very apologetic."
Commonwealth's Attorney Gino Williams said the bomb was made out of a carbon dioxide cartridge, gunpowder and a wet-dry fuse. It was detonated during school on March 5. It demolished the toilet and sent porcelain shards around the area.
Other boys were in the locker room changing clothes, but no one was injured.
The board suspended both students for 365 days, but included an option under which the teens could re-petition the board in July.
The board could decide then to end the expulsion and allow the boys to return to school in the fall, or to continue the expulsion for the entire 365 days.
The board also instructed the boys to pay $99 each for the damage to the toilet.
A few days after the explosion, the teens were charged with manufacturing or possessing an explosive device, which is a felony.
Williams, the prosecutor, said if the two are found guilty, they could be turned over to the Department of Youth and Family Services until they reach age 21.
Lesser punishments include serving probation, paying a fine or working community service. The case will be tried in juvenile court in April.
Williams said one of the boys is on probation for another charge, but declined to elaborate on the offense.
The last time a Floyd County student was expelled for bringing a weapon to school was 1992. A 17-year-old boy brought a sawed-off shotgun into Floyd High School so that he could trade it with a hunting knife.
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