ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, June 27, 1996 TAG: 9606270039
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: FLOYD
SOURCE: KATHY LU AND LISA GARCIA STAFF WRITERS
Two 16-year-old boys who used a homemade explosive to blow up a toilet in the boys' locker room of Floyd County High School in March were sentenced to community service Wednesday by Juvenile and Domestic Relations Judge J.L. Tompkins III.
One boy, who has a record of misdemeanor offenses, must complete 100 hours of community service. He also received a suspended sentence to the Department of Youth and Family Services.
The other boy, who has committed no previous offenses, was sentenced to 50 hours of community service and has been put on probation indefinitely. The youths' names are not being used because of their age.
The boys were found guilty in May of manufacturing, possessing or using an explosive device and were expelled from the high school for 365 days.
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 in the locker room March 5, demolishing a toilet and scattering porcelain shards around the room. No one was injured.
All damages have been paid for, said Williams. Among the factors that affected the judge's decision were the actions of the boys' parents, he said.
"The steps that the parents took kept the one young man from being committed," Williams said. "Both [sets of parents] acted very appropriately, and the parents really responded as they should. Unfortunately, I don't often see that."
The boys can petition the Floyd County School Board in July about the expulsion. The board can decide whether to allow the boys to return to school in the fall.
LENGTH: Short : 39 linesby CNB