Jun 12, 2009 8:05 am US/Central
Is Acne Treatment To Blame For School Bombing?
Small Bomb Went Off At Lockport Township High School Last Month
-
-
Lockport Township High School (File)
CBS
Acne may be partly to blame for the actions of the Lockport boy who set off a "MacGyver bomb" at Lockport Township High School last month, the boy's attorney said in court Wednesday.
About three weeks before
the May 11 explosion at Central campus, the 15-year-old boy began using Accutane, a prescription drug used to treat moderate to severe acne, attorney Kenneth Zelazo said.
"Documented side effects include psychosis and depression," Joliet-based Zelazo said.
Will County Assistant State's Attorney Tina Filipiak wasn't convinced.
"This was a mischievous act on the part of the defendant that clearly got out of hand," she argued.
There is evidence that before the incident, the freshman experimented with the same type of "MacGyver bomb" in his back yard, Filipiak said.
"These are very serious offenses that resulted in the school building being locked down and people sent to the hospital," she added. "Luckily, there were no serious injuries."
Officials are not releasing the boy's name, and he is not being identified because of his age.
In court, he stood silent in a blue jumpsuit and shackles. His parents, who declined comment, were at his side. His mother wiped away tears when her son was escorted out of the room.
In addition to reviewing the side effects of the medication, Zelazo asked Judge Paula Gomora to take into consideration the "long-term effects" the school's administrative process will have on the boy, who is an honor student. The Lockport Township High School Board has not yet decided on disciplinary action for the boy, who faces up to a two-year expulsion from school, district spokeswoman Kim Brehm said.
"Schools have no tolerance for this type of behavior," said Gomora, who denied Zelazo's request to release his client from custody.
The boy, who is
charged with unlawful use of a weapon, possession of an explosive device and reckless conduct, has been held at the River Valley Justice Center for 30 days.
He has displayed "model" behavior during that time, Zelazo said. Gomora said she will take that and his "good" behavior during the hearing into consideration. If convicted, he could be sentenced to a state juvenile facility until his 21st birthday, Will County State's Attorney spokesman Charles Pelkie said.
Lockport police previously said the boy confessed to setting off the bomb -- which was a bottle filled with household chemicals that react when mixed. He apologized for the prank gone wrong and said he never intended to harm anyone, police said.
Police are still investigating two other incidents at the district during the same week of the explosion. They have said they do not believe they are related. On May 6, the words "Schools bombed Weds." were found in a boys' bathroom at East campus. Also at East, a computer-generated voice called in a bomb threat on May 12.
If the acne medication was a catalyst for the boy's actions, Gomora said she expects to see medical records and even testimony from the boy's doctor.
"At this point, it is pure speculation," Gomora said.
"Just because the medicine may have caused this type of behavior, doesn't mean it did," she added.
The boy is next due in court June 19.
The Tattooed Ladies of Hollywood
Click to enlarge
Elderly Woman Killed By Snow Plow In Rogers Park 4 mins ago
Stumble It!
Comments