SAGINAW, MI — Two 17-year-old Merrill High School students accused of lighting a bottle rocket and throwing it into the school's gym during lunch face up to 20 years in prison.

Cody J. Felver and Troy J. O'Dell are charged with using an explosive device on a vulnerable target May 8 at the school, 555 W. Alice.

Saginaw County Sheriff William L. Federspiel said a sheriff's deputy was at school as part of a routine patrol when the school's principal told her that students reported hearing a “loud bang” and smelling smoke in the gym.

The deputy and investigators determined that Felver and O'Dell were together about noon when one of them opened the door to the gym and one of them threw the firework into the gym, Federspiel said. Nobody was hurt during the incident, the sheriff said.

Felver and O'Dell were taken into custody at the school within an hour of the incident.

The charge that they face, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, is reserved for Molotov cocktails “or any similar device.” State law lists a “vulnerable target” as multiple different buildings such as schools, churches, stadiums, and airports.

Felver last lived at 595 W. Redstone in Wheeler, while O'Dell last lived at 1200 E. Freeland in Midland County. In arraigning them on Friday, May 10, Saginaw County District Judge Terry L. Clark entered a not guilty plea on their behalf and ordered them held on a $10,000 or 10 percent bond.

Both Felver and O'Dell posted their bonds that day and remain free pending their next court appearance.

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