Student back in jail for Visine stunt

Published 12:00 am Friday, May 16, 2008

VIDALIA — The Clayton teen accused of poisoning his teacher is back in custody after a brief stint of semi-freedom.

The student, 16, was accused of spiking a Concordia Education Center teacher’s soda with approximately 75 percent of a bottle of Visine eye drops earlier this month.

The teacher was reportedly treated at Riverland Medical Center for severe intestinal symptoms. The teen was charged with simple battery — mingling substances Tuesday, and was released to the custody of his parents. The decision to release the student was made by a juvenile officer outside of the discretion of the Seventh Judicial District Court, Judge Leo Boothe said.

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“A deputy released this juvenile without notifying the court, without any authority to do so,” Boothe said. “As soon as I found out about it, I immediately called and ordered him re-arrested.”

The release was done because there was no space available, Assistant District Attorney Ronnie McMillin said.

“Every place they had was full,” McMillin said. “If the judge had known that, he would have let a lesser (offender) out.”

The student appeared in closed juvenile court Thursday, and the teen was remanded to the custody of the state after Boothe set his bond at $75,000.

One of the ingredients in Visine, Tetrahydrozoline, is toxic and can cause nausea, vomiting, lowered blood pressure and diarrhea.