RICHMOND, Texas – One of 16 teenagers accused in a high school prank refused to accept a plea deal Tuesday.
Sixteen Clements High School seniors planned to chain furniture together as an end of the year prank in May. Fort Bend County investigators said the prank went too far and Sugar Land police almost shot one of them.
Recommended Videos
Three of the teenagers were arrested immediately and the rest were arrested a few days later.
The plea offered to a 17-year-old Tuesday included probation and community service, and it would require him to carry a sign in front of the school that said, "What I did was a crime, not a prank."
Eleven of the teens have agreed to the plea bargain, including carrying the sign.
The teen's attorney said he does not believe any of the teens should be subject to that type of public humiliation.
"The message I see is one of humiliation and demeaning," attorney Steve "Rocket" Rosen said. "When you attack a person's name and you give them a record, they're done."
Fort Bend County District Attorney John Healy said he thinks holding up the sign in public would teach the teens a good lesson.
"Shame constructively administered is a good teaching tool," Healy said.
Rosen said his client is a good student and had never been in trouble before. The teen is set to attend Texas A&M University in the fall.
The teen's trial was set for Dec. 27.
Rosen represents another teen charged in the incident. That teen is scheduled to appear in court on Friday.