Polk County State's Attorney: Drop Felony Charges against 16 year old Kiera Wilmot

The Issue

Sixteen year old student Kiera Wilmot performed a chemistry experiment in her high school's lab to see what would happen when some chemicals mixed. The 8oz water bottle holding the chemicals' top popped off and some smoke was emitted, no one was injured and no property was damaged. She did not know beforehand it would cause that reaction. Her principal initially defended her actions as an accident but school security took her into police custody where she is facing FELONY charges and has been expelled from school. The code of conduct states that there must have been intent to cause harm, but as Kiera and the principal stated, there was not ill intent. This is a clear case of wrongful criminilization and will destroy Kiera's bright future. More on the case here: http://feministing.com/2013/05/01/the-effects-of-unchecked-criminalization-teen-charged-with-felony-for-science-experiment/

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Ariel RPetition Starter
This petition had 3,965 supporters

The Issue

Sixteen year old student Kiera Wilmot performed a chemistry experiment in her high school's lab to see what would happen when some chemicals mixed. The 8oz water bottle holding the chemicals' top popped off and some smoke was emitted, no one was injured and no property was damaged. She did not know beforehand it would cause that reaction. Her principal initially defended her actions as an accident but school security took her into police custody where she is facing FELONY charges and has been expelled from school. The code of conduct states that there must have been intent to cause harm, but as Kiera and the principal stated, there was not ill intent. This is a clear case of wrongful criminilization and will destroy Kiera's bright future. More on the case here: http://feministing.com/2013/05/01/the-effects-of-unchecked-criminalization-teen-charged-with-felony-for-science-experiment/

avatar of the starter
Ariel RPetition Starter

The Decision Makers

Joe Hall
Joe Hall
Chief of Police (Bartow, FL)
Ronald Pritchard
Ronald Pritchard
Bartow Principal
Dr. John Stewart
Dr. John Stewart
Polk County Superintendent
Jerry Hall
Jerry Hall
(Polk County) State Attorney Tenth Judicial Circuit

Petition Updates