MARIJUANA MUFFINS BRING PAIR FELONY CHARGES

'Senior Prank' Hospitalizes One and Draws Interest From FBI Agents

DALLAS - A high school student accused of delivering marijuana-laced
bran muffins to a teacher's lounge said Friday he had no idea his
"senior prank" would become the focus of an FBI terrorism
investigation and result in state felony charges carrying up to 20
years in prison.

"It was juvenile and stupid, and, believe it or not, I thought I was
only participating in a senior prank," said Ian Walker, 18, one of
two Dallas students charged after 19 people at Lake Highlands High
School in northeast Dallas became sick when they unknowingly snacked
on the tainted muffins.

Walker told reporters in a news conference that he was sorry and "had
no idea of the scope of my actions."

On Thursday, Dallas police submitted five cases of assault on a
public servant against Walker and Joseph Tellini, 18, after an
investigation into the May 16 incident by local authorities and the
FBI North Texas Joint Terrorism Task Force.

FBI Special Agent Donna Bennett said the task force became involved
because early on it was not known if the incident was more widespread.

"As a terrorist attack, muffins tainted with some kind of chemical
could have been distributed to a number of places," she said.

Dallas health authorities determined last week that the muffins were
laced with marijuana. Workers who ate them reported feeling dizzy and
nauseated and were treated at area hospitals. No one was seriously
injured, but one victim, 86-year-old Rita Greenfield, was admitted
overnight to Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas.

"They were just thinking it would be fun to get these teachers all
silly and giggly," Greenfield, a receptionist at the Richardson
Independent School District facility, told the Associated Press. "I
do not think of this as a prank at all. It has caused heartaches and
hard feelings."

FBI investigators released images from a surveillance video at the
school showing a man carrying a bag as he walked to the school
office. The tape was shown to students, who were asked to help in the
investigation.

Walker, who was released from jail Thursday after he and Tellini
posted $7,500 bonds, was suspended from Bishop Lynch High School, a
Catholic school where he was a senior. He will be denied a diploma
and barred from graduation ceremonies, a family attorney said.

Tellini has declined comment and did not return phone calls placed to
his house Friday.

Rachel Raya, spokeswoman for the Dallas County District Attorney's
Office, said prosecutors will seek to enhance charges against the
teens from third-degree felonies to second-degree felonies because of
the use of a controlled substance. The stiffer charges carry a
maximum punishment of 20 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.