US teens facing criminal charges after flatulence prank sends classmates to hospital
- 18-year-old and 17-year-old charged with possession of prohibited weapon after flatulence odour permeated Texas school; they could face 10 years in prison
- School was evacuated twice and six students were taken to hospital due to headaches and nausea, reports said, before being released the same day
Two Texas students are facing felony charges after a prank involving “fart spray” sent several of their classmates to the hospital and caused school closure, according to multiple reports.
An 18-year-old and a 17-year-old were charged with possession of a prohibited weapon – a third-degree felony – after a sickening odour permeated the halls of Caney Creek High School on May 3 and May 4.
A felony is typically defined as a crime punishable by at least one year in prison.
Police allege the students “intentionally or knowingly” possessed “a chemical dispensing device”, according to court reports, per NBC News.
The school was evacuated twice due to the pungent smell, and six students were taken to the hospital due to headaches and nausea, local news outlet ABC 13 reported. The students were released on the same day.
Jeff Stichler, the school’s principal, said in a statement at the time that multiple fire departments responded to the incident. The school later confirmed “the safety of the air quality at our campus” when it was closed on May 5.
Following a police investigation into the incident, authorities believe the odour was caused by Hensgaukt Fart Spray, per NBC.