AP/ February 11, 2009, 3:04 PM

Bully Tries To Poison Student With Peanuts

An eighth-grader was charged with wanton endangerment after allegedly putting crumbled peanut butter cookies in the lunchbox of another student with a severe allergy to peanuts.

The allergic student, also an eighth-grader, did not eat the cookies and did not suffer a reaction.

Fayette County public schools spokeswoman Lisa Deffendall said the incident occurred Thursday on the Morton Middle School running track, where students had gone to eat lunch and enjoy the warm weather.

As the students neared the end of their lunchtime, a student was seen putting the crumbled cookies in the allergic student's lunchbox, she said.

It was well known the other student suffered from severe peanut allergies, Deffendall said. There was no known history of problems between the two 13-year-old students, she said.

After an investigation, the student was arrested on a felony wanton endangerment charge and has been removed from the school, Deffendall said.

A person is charged with felony, or first-degree, wanton endangerment when someone is suspected of engaging in conduct that causes the danger of death or physical injury to another person, according to state legal statutes.

The student will face charges in the juvenile criminal justice system.

Deffendall could not comment on specific administrative action taken against the student, but said an expulsion comes only after a decision by the school board.

Letters went home Friday to parents of Morton students notifying them of the incident.

There is no districtwide policy regarding peanut or other food allergies, Deffendall said. Schools that have students with food allergies tailor policies to protect them. Some schools have separate "peanut-free" tables. Because a number of Morton students have known peanut and sesame seed allergies, families have been asked not to send those foods to school.

For those allergic to peanuts, even trace amounts of peanut oil can cause severe reactions and even death. Symptoms can include hives, welts and swelling that can restrict airways. Earlier this month, it was reported that a 13-year-old boy died in Australia at a school camp due to an allergic reaction to peanuts.
© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
56 Comments Add a Comment
linkicon reporticon emailicon
libsrweak says:
I once had repsect for the leaeders of this nation.
And the schools.
They use to help the pupils.
Now all they care about it the end of the and that pay check.
There are kids that fail thru the cracks
This boy is one
Thank ye America the once great nation now becoming a 3rd world nation.

Posted by MichelleM99 at 03:44 AM : Apr 21, 2008
+ report abuse

********

really..who did you actually respected?
reply
linkicon reporticon emailicon
nlm2383 says:
I meant that we could "what if" because someone stated "what if the kid had died." And we could "what if" this thing to death but it won''''t change the facts. I just believe that trying a 13 year old for attempted murder isn''''t the best way to deal with this. As a parent of a disabled child I know what it does to a kid to be bullied, but even if it were my kid i still wouldn''''t want them to try the child for attempted murder.

Posted by fabrat1

So a wife hires a hit man to kill her husband, but it just so happens that the hit man is either one to go to the cops or a cop himself. What then? I guess we don''t charge her with attempted murder because he''s not dead...? What a terrible theory you have.
reply
linkicon reporticon emailicon
excoachken says:
In a way, it is partially "Bush''s fault," at least as much as teens giving bj''s is "Clinton''s fault." The Cowardly Cowboy has made "Bullying" his #1 way to handle international relations (Iraq, Korea, Iran,Venezuela)and domestic policy (veto, veto, veto). Do you remember "Bring ''em on!" or "I am the decider!" or other arrogant, ignorant, and abusive statements that this fool has made. He is a "role model" for our youth, and many middle schoolers do not understand that he is just another stupid adult bully!
reply
linkicon reporticon emailicon
nonayabiness says:
The kid trying to poison the other needs to be expelled from any school for the remainder of this year and next and attend a juvenile detention program. Then, after serving his time, receiving treatment and graduating 2 years after the rest of his classmates, perhaps he will learn from the severity of his prank.
reply
linkicon reporticon emailicon
michellem99-2009 says:
I once had repsect for the leaeders of this nation.
And the schools.
They use to help the pupils.
Now all they care about it the end of the and that pay check.
There are kids that fail thru the cracks
This boy is one
Thank ye America the once great nation now becoming a 3rd world nation.
reply
linkicon reporticon emailicon
brianbwb-2009 says:
"I hope you don''''t take your superior attitude on the streets as I can see it creating much havoc." Posted by kittykatty2

Well kitty, I am back, after a good sleep, and your reply caught my eye first, so:

You obviously didn''t get the sarcastic tone in which my comments were made, this is a fault of the US education system, which teaches how to read words, but not how to understand them. The "jungle law" existence I referred to was a fact of life on the streets of Detroit before I was old enough to walk them, It was an exercise in "dark humor" that moved me to post that a really useful education would prepare students for that reality.

"this is clearly George Bushes fault!" Posted by angryman55

Nah, there were corrupt presidents before Bush, and we will probably see one or two more, before the country''s ultimate demise. My point was when trying to teach a child right from wrong, how do you explain away the obvious wrongs committed by those in authority, from the police, to the judges, to the city, and state officials, even to the president? Pretending they don''t exist makes the teacher look like a fool in the eyes of the child, and eliminates and trust and respect the child might have had.
reply
linkicon reporticon emailicon
michellem99-2009 says:
I read every one''s say and we all pay to educate the child. I told a young man to haul his pants up. I am tired of them shoving their underware in the face..A woman heard me YOU GONNA BUY HIM A BELT..I said no ma''ma that is yer job..she was rude..I pity the little one with her..I told my friend we paid to educate that woman when she was a student and we are now her kids..Every time we pay rent..I was pissed and hurt.
reply
linkicon reporticon emailicon
fabrat1 says:
Given that some people can actually die from a nut allergy, this kid should be tried for attempted murder.
Posted by gopsux at 01:03 PM : Apr 20, 2008


If you''re going to post here you should really pay attention to what you say to who. This is what I was commenting to and I am not the one who brought up the term "attempted murder" I was just commenting to the statemenr that someone other than me posted.
reply
linkicon reporticon emailicon
sandzz-2009 says:
"This kid is only 13 I think trying him for attempted murder is a little harsh. Not that I condone what he did but there are better ways of dealing with it.

Posted by fabrat1 at 01:09 PM : Apr 20, 2008"

Learn to read, the charge is wanton endangerment, not attempted murder. The two are vastly different charges.
reply
linkicon reporticon emailicon
michellem99-2009 says:
WHERE DID THIS STUDENT GET AN IDEA TO POISOM..I was taught not to take food/drink unopened.those I DON''T know I am glad as people we are talking about this..I never give anything that to another to put in their body..
Are ye on a sp deit.
We went to a food bank and they were giving out a juice that Vince can''t have due to his meds..I told the lady that is barrrd..She got pissed..I said his doctor said no..Vince is 55.
If we have compapy over I asked are there foods ye can''t for health reasons..
We may go out and we know what we can/can''t have.
Alot of the probrlems are bad parenting..i *SEE* it every where. Children bossing their care takers.. I am appalled. The leave to beaver days ended years ago..I learnt No and no meant just that . The govt is the blame..That is I never wanted children of my own. The law is the reason. they run wild..THEY KNOW MUM/DAD CAN''T TRAIN THEM THEM THE WAY MOSE OF US WERE. I was used for the money foster parents got,they taught me noting,,I lived in fear.
reply
See all 56 Comments
Scroll Left Scroll Right