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By Katie Johnson/Austin Daily HeraldAn 18-year-old Lyle High School student is facing two felony charges for allegedly lacing brownies with laxatives and distributing them at school, making staff and students sick.
Collin Wayne Orth admitted to buying the laxatives and making the brownies at another student's home, according to the criminal complaint.
On the morning of Feb. 8, the chief of the Lyle Police Department met with the high school principal to discuss a report of adulterated brownies sickening people at the school.
The principal said that on Feb. 6, the defendant had brought a pan of 16 brownies to school and gave them to staff and students. He said Orth admitted on Feb. 7 that he and two other 18-year-old males baked the brownies at one of their homes. The principal claimed the defendant had admitted to purchasing the laxatives and other ingredients.
The complaint stated that the other two males said they were “just watching” while the defendant made them.
Seven staff members and five students reported suffering symptoms later in the day of discomfort, diarrhea, stomach cramps and bloody stools.
Orth is charged with felony adulteration resulting in bodily harm, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and/or a $20,000 fine, and felony adulteration not resulting in bodily harm, a maximum sentence of five years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine.
He has been issued a summons to appear in Mower County Court March 19.
By Katie Johnson/Austin Daily HeraldAn 18-year-old Lyle High School student is facing two felony charges for allegedly lacing brownies with laxatives and distributing them at school, making staff and students sick.
Collin Wayne Orth admitted to buying the laxatives and making the brownies at another student's home, according to the criminal complaint.
On the morning of Feb. 8, the chief of the Lyle Police Department met with the high school principal to discuss a report of adulterated brownies sickening people at the school.
The principal said that on Feb. 6, the defendant had brought a pan of 16 brownies to school and gave them to staff and students. He said Orth admitted on Feb. 7 that he and two other 18-year-old males baked the brownies at one of their homes. The principal claimed the defendant had admitted to purchasing the laxatives and other ingredients.
The complaint stated that the other two males said they were “just watching” while the defendant made them.
Seven staff members and five students reported suffering symptoms later in the day of discomfort, diarrhea, stomach cramps and bloody stools.
Orth is charged with felony adulteration resulting in bodily harm, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and/or a $20,000 fine, and felony adulteration not resulting in bodily harm, a maximum sentence of five years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine.
He has been issued a summons to appear in Mower County Court March 19.