Site last updated: Friday, September 18, 2026

Log In

Reset Password
Butler County's great daily newspaper

Student enters agreement in pineapple case

One of two teenage girls who allegedly helped another student intentionally expose a classmate with a severe pineapple allergy to the fruit entered into an agreement in Butler County Juvenile Court Friday — and will be subject to juvenile probation.

The 13-year-old girl entered into a consent decree on the charges of felony conspiracy to commit aggravated assault, misdemeanor reckless endangerment and disorderly conduct Friday before Judge Timothy McCune. A consent decree is an agreement between the prosecution and the juvenile regarding the disposition of a juvenile case.

She will be subject to six months of juvenile probation, which includes the payment of court costs, a $25 Victims Compensation Assistance Program fee, a $50 probation supervision fee, $141.20 criminal liability fee, completion of 20 hours of community service and random drug screenings throughout the probation period.

A consent decree review hearing is scheduled Aug. 17.

The girl was charged by Butler Township police after the incident Dec. 13 at the Butler Intermediate High School, where police say she and a 14-year-old girl helped another 14-year-old girl intentionally expose the classmate, after that girl was accused of rubbing pineapple on her own hand and then “high-fiving” the girl during a lunch period.

The 14-year-old girl who police said was most culpable, was severely limited from using social media except for school-related purposes at an emergency hearing before McCune Thursday. It was also learned that she had been expelled from the school and is now attending cyber school through the district.

The girl is due back in court March 2 for her pre-adjudication conference on charges of felony aggravated assault and conspiracy and misdemeanor simple assault, reckless endangerment, harassment and disorderly conduct, along with the other 14-year-old, at which they will have the option to admit guilt or deny the charges.

If the girls deny the allegations, an adjudication hearing will be scheduled to determine guilt or innocence.

A disposition hearing will ultimately determine treatment, supervision or rehabilitation.

The Butler Eagle is not naming the girls, as they were charged as juveniles.

The victim was taken to the nurse's office, given an epinephrine pen and eventually taken by ambulance to Butler Memorial Hospital. She was treated and released from the hospital the same day, authorities said.

Prosecutors suggested the felony charges against all three girls, saying they knew about the victim's severe allergy. Investigators said the victim's allergy is such that any contact with pineapple could have caused her to go into anaphylactic shock.

The school does not serve pineapple to avoid an accidental exposure. Because of that pineapple prohibition, authorities suspected someone had brought the fruit in their lunch from home, according to school officials.

The 13-year-old girl's attorney, Gary Vanasdale, declined to comment after court, but did say during the proceeding that his client “has never been involved in something like this before.”

“She is a very good student and this is a learning experience for her,” he said. “This consent decree will be an opportunity to make amends, as it were.”

When asked by McCune what the school has done in regards to his client, Vanasdale said he was not aware of any punishment from the district.

The victim was present in the courtroom Friday, but did not speak during the proceeding.

More in Local News

Subscribe to our Daily Newsletter

* indicates required
TODAY'S PHOTOS