A group of Maryland teens are facing criminal charges after breaking into Chopticon High School in Morganza and unleashing 72,000 ladybugs into the building for a senior prank.
Breaking into school grounds at around 3:30 a.m. on May 20, the group released the bugs purchased on amazon to complete their senior gag (although no one found it particularly funny). While two students waited in the car, four others completed the act while wearing masks and hoodies, notes the Huffington Post. Six Copiticon students and one alumnus were charged--the four juvenile students were charged with fourth-degree-burglary, disruption of school activities and property destruction and were released to their guardians. The three adults involved in the prank will be charged by criminal summons according to a release from the St. Mary's Country Sheriff's Office.
"It was a mess," a school staff member said, notes the Washington Post. "When you walked in the building, they covered the walls and hallways, flying around, and they were all in a pile in different areas of the building."
72,000 lady bugs released into Md. school for senior prank leads to criminal charges https://t.co/eDigSeCsn7 #fox5dc pic.twitter.com/eEuXFqqOyp
— FOX 5 DC (@fox5newsdc) May 26, 2015
The school implemented punishments regarding the ladybug incident and one senior prankster, Brian Reminga, is banned from walking at this Wednesday's commencement.
"Please let me walk," Reminga told Fox. "It was a harmless prank."
When Chopticon Principal, Garth Bowling, was sought out for further comments, phone calls were not immediately returned. Students of the high school have strongly protested the punishments put in place, deeming them unfair as one student involved in the prank-gone-awry was allowed to play in the state championship baseball game.
"I didn't see a ladybug all day," a second-floor teacher said. The teacher further explained the the students felt the prank was funny and that a couple student felt bad for the bugs.
