February 11, 2006
BY JUSTINA WANG

A 12-year-old Aurora boy who said he brought powdered sugar to school for a science project this week has been charged with a felony for possessing a look-alike drug, Aurora police have confirmed.

The sixth-grade student at Waldo Middle School was also suspended for two weeks from school after showing the bag of powdered sugar to his friends.

The boy, who is not being identified because he is a juvenile, said he brought the bag to school to ask his science teacher if he could run an experiment using sugar.

Two other boys asked if the bag contained cocaine after he showed it to them in the bathroom Wednesday morning, the boy's mother said.

He joked that it was cocaine, before telling them, "just kidding," she said.

Aurora police arrested the boy after a custodian at the school reported the boy's comments. The youngster was taken to the police station and detained, before being released to his parents that afternoon.

"This is getting ridiculous," said the boy's mother. "They treated my son like a criminal. .. . This is no way to treat a 12-year-old kid."

East Aurora School District officials declined to comment on the case, citing privacy issues.

The district issued a written statement, which said: "The dangers of illegal drugs and controlled substances are clear.

Could get probation

"Look-alike drugs and substances can cause that same level of danger because staff and students are not equipped to differentiate between the two."

The school handbook states that students can be suspended or expelled for carrying a look-alike drug.

Penalties for juveniles are decided on a case-by-case basis, but if convicted, the sixth-grader could likely face up to five years' probation, said Jeffery Jefko, deputy director of Kane County juvenile court services.

Juveniles who have prior criminal records could also be placed in a residential treatment program if convicted, he said.

Aurora Beacon-News

cliffs: 12 year old asks teacher if he can run an experiment on sugar. Students ask him if it's cocaine and he said yes as a joke. Cops arrest the kid and could face 5 years of jail time if convicted.

http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/...gardrug11.html

LMAO! That's great!

I bet it gets thrown out Double slap....for the Aurora police of course

Move to the city! Our teachers and cops know what real drugs are!!!!

They probably see it everyday.

Cops in towns with less crime take the little things a lot farther than they have to so they can say they did something.

+1 true,true

Its so funny what goes on in HP, all the preppy rich jewish mothers(I can say that cuz im jewish) go crazy at the slightest thing and get there lawyers out like every day, its quite sad actually

Aurora is a city, and it has crimes just like Chicago. It's like a small Chicago if you will.

I think it will be a lesson learned not to play around like that at school. Hopefully other kids learn from that kids mistake.
I think "faking" drug use/selling promotes the real thing later on in life. Not good for kids.

I have an 11 year old and I wouldn't want her or her friends to fake drug use or selling.

Anywhere you go whether it be Illinois or Califonia, possesion of a look-a-like carries almost the same penalties. Carrying oregano around will get you throw in jail, if caught. Not everybody can tell the difference between "real'' and ''fake'' drugs, or has the resourses to do so.