Blacksburg police arrested two walk-ons on for the Virginia Tech football team Sunday night after a small explosive device was detonated.
Joshua Trimble, a university studies major, and Brian Rody have been charged with manufacturing and detonating an explosive device after Blacksburg Police were called to a residence on the 1600 block of Patrick Henry Drive.
Nobody was hurt in the incident, according to a press release from the Blacksburg Police Department. The two were taken to Montgomery Country Regional Jail and given a $2,500 secured bond. They were released Monday morning.
According to Jimmy Turk, the players' lawyer, the incident involved a soda bottle filled with cleaning fluid that reacts when exposed to aluminum foil to create a small explosion.
"There was no ill-will or malicious intent," Turk said. "It was just a prank they were pulling on a friend of theirs."
Under Virginia law, the charge is considered a class 5 felony and punishable by imprisonment between one and 10 years, or confinement in jail for up to a year and a fine below $2,500.
According to Turk, the two have been very cooperative with the police.
"They did not know the seriousness of what they could be charged with," Turk said. "I'm sure that we'll be able to resolve it in a way that's very fair and will not involve a felony conviction."
If a student-athlete is charged with a felony they are automatically suspended until the pending charges are dismissed, dropped, or resolved according to University policy.
Neither Tech nor the Athletic Department has issued a statement on the charges.
Both players are redshirt freshman from Ashburn, Va. Trimble has played in 11 games, mainly on special teams. He had 13 tackles this season and recovered a fumble in the Florida State game. Rody is a backup quarterback.
The preliminary hearing for the two has been set for 2 p.m. on Jan. 24 in Montgomery County general district court.
Follow these writers on Twitter @CAustinCt and @MalloryNoePayne
A version of this article appeared in the Dec 4 issue of the Collegiate Times.
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Nobody was hurt, they didn't intend to hurt anyone, and they damaged no property, so let's give them a felony! Let's take away their right to vote, right to own firearms, and their ability to ever get a good paying job! That sounds like an awesome idea!
Seriously, this is retarded. Slap them on the wrists and give the community service, but don't ruin their lives over a prank.
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Agreed. Better yet, have them write a research paper on the chemical reaction that took place and present the dangers of such pranks as a public service announcement.
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