POLK COUNTY, Fla. — A Polk County student is no longer facing felony charges of setting off a small explosion at her high school.
Kiera Wilmot was arrested after what she claims was a science experiment exploded at Bartow High school last month.
No one was injured.
The teen's arrest launched an international outcry on social media by those who think authorities were taking a heavy hand in her case. An online petition to have her charges dropped garnered nearly 200,000 signatures.
The State Attorney’s office dropped them, but said she must complete a diversion program.
Polk County school leaders haven't said if Wilmot will be expelled.
Wilmot’s case had gone before a School Board hearing officer once the criminal proceedings were completed.
"There has been no recommendation to the board to expel the student," said Bridges.
Wilmot was suspended for 10 days after the incident. When she returned to school she attended classes at an alternative school and not her high school.
Bartow High School Principal Ron Pritchard earlier had recommended Wilmot be expelled for a year, based on district's Code of Conduct, but that was put on hold until the criminal allegations against her were resolved. He said Wilmot's case was to go before a School Board hearing officer once the criminal proceedings were completed.
A lawyer representing the 16-year-old said she was conducting an experiment for a science class. Her teacher wasn't aware of the experiment.
State Attorney Jerry Hill said he expects to resolve the case soon.
"I'm not sure what the final terms will be, but the resolution will fit the crime," he said.
Wilmot was arrested April 22 for two felonies after school administrators reported she combined toilet bowl cleaner and aluminum foil in a bottle, and the resulting gas blew the cap off the plastic bottle. Pritchard heard the blast and said he thought it was a firecracker.
Wilmot was behind the school's cafeteria when the bottle exploded, and other students were egging her on.
"I think there was a lot of peer pressure that got her into this, too," Hill told The Lakeland Ledger last week.
The Associated Press and Lakeland Ledger contributed to this report.
WFTV
