Ten Mt. Pleasant Area Senior High students learned yesterday that a long-standing prank may no longer be innocuous — it may be a federal offense. A 30-year tradition of scaling and spray painting a 100-foot water tower behind the high school could have been deemed a federal offense under a new law that makes tampering with water facilities a potential terroristic threat. Authorities said the students escaped federal prosecution because the tank was empty and in the midst of repairs by the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County on April 19 when they painted their names, profane words and obscene pictures on the structure. Defense attorney Chris Feliciani said an agreement was reached to withdraw the criminal charges against his clients — eight of them juveniles — if they plead guilty to criminal mischief and pay restitution for $3,360 in damages to the tower. But the intent of authorities is to stress the seriousness of the student’s actions. To educate students, teachers and administrators about the criminal nature and life-threatening dangers of this Mt. Pleasant tradition, officials plan to organize a presentation at the high school. “If this tower would have been filled, it would have made a difference. We would have to notify federal authorities. Our position is if this ever happens again, they’re going to be notified. It’s just too dangerous,” said MAWC Solicitor Ken Burkley. Burkley, along with Feliciani and state police Trooper Gregg T. Norton of Troop A Greensburg, agreed to join forces to educate the school district after criminal charges were withdrawn by the district attorney’s office Friday afternoon in the courtroom of District Justice Roger Eckels in Norvelt. Norton would like to organize a peer-to-peer discussion with student leaders and fellow students, with authorities standing by to answer questions, he said. “We could bring in some federal agents, along with local authorities, and keep it peer-to-peer so it is less intimidating to the students,” Norton said. “We just want to send a message,” Feliciani said. “In the wake of 9-11, any breach of a water facility requires us to refer the case to the FBI as a possible act of terrorism. We realize it’s a tradition that’s been done for the past 30 years. But it’s now potentially a federal offense.” The seriousness of the crime and the danger of climbing the tower are enough to end the Mt. Pleasant tradition, Norton said. “This could have been a lot worse. This was apparently encouraged. Teachers and coaches need to make a point this was yesterday’s tradition; 9-11 has changed what used to be a prank,” he said. The trooper said he didn’t think the students had serious criminal intent when they spray painted the tower. Burkley agreed. “This was solely vandalism, rather than tampering,” he said.

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