ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, February 26, 1997 TAG: 9702260058
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MATT CHITTUM STAFF WRITER
A 15-year-old former Lord Botetourt High School student accused of cutting a girl with a pocket knife and later threatening her pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding in Botetourt Juvenile Court Tuesday.
Michael Odell also was ordered to have no further contact with the victim, Botetourt County Commonwealth's Attorney Joel Branscom said.
The charge stemmed from a Dec. 5 incident when Odell was waving a pocket knife and cut the girl's pinky while her hand was resting on her throat, Branscom said. The wound required eight stitches.
Odell was suspended immediately, and the school board voted to expel him Dec. 12.
But the victim said the boy came back onto school grounds a few days after the first incident and told her he had intended to cut her throat, Branscom said. That threat, which showed malicious intent, allowed Branscom to charge Odell with a felony. Odell denied that meeting ever took place.
Odell was suspended once before in October for putting gum in the girl's hair, Branscom said. He suspects Odell only intended to scare the girl with the knife, but went too far.
Odell will be sentenced March 25.
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