Published Thursday, May 6, 1999 "I got a lot of dirty looks when I first walked into school," said Crystal Pearson. "But I just held my head up higher."
Crystal had been accused of making a bomb threat at the high school last week. Rumors of that threat escalated to the point where administrators let students sign out April 28.
The 16-year-old said she was told she was suspended; administrators said she was placed on homebound education. Paperwork for neither scenario was started.
Mercer County Common Pleas Court Judge Thomas Dobson on Tuesday ordered that Crystal be permitted back in school. He said that while the teen's comments may have been inappropriate, she has the freedom to make inappropriate comments.
Crystal said high school Principal Robert Alcaro offered to have someone escort her to class and stay with her and Mercer County Common Pleas Court Judge Thomas Dobson had said county sheriff's deputies could accompany her. Crystal said she declined both offers.
"I was scared out of my ever living mind," she said. "But as soon as I got there my friend gave me a big hug and said she was glad I was back."
The sophomore class officers had taken the teen flowers while she was at home, and Crystal said one of her classes signed a card for her.
"A lot of people said they were sad to see me accused unjustly," she said.
Many of the students who normally pick on her, didn't have anything to say, she said.
"Everyone treated me nicely," she said. "Actually nicer than normal."
One student did tell her he would pay her to take his name off an alleged hit list she had. Crystal said she reported the student.
