Mother of teen with exploding pen released

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Nov. 2 (UPI) -- A North Carolina woman was released on bond Tuesday after spending two weeks in jail on various explosives charges, authorities said.

Tracy Bauguess was arrested after her 16-year-old son, Jessie, took an exploding pen to school and another student was injured, The Charlotte (N.C.) Observer reported.

Her attorney said Bauguess didn't know her sons were experimenting with explosive materials.

However, prosecutors told Mecklenburg District Judge Regan Miller she had to be aware of the explosives because there were singe marks all over her house and a hole had been blown in her bedroom wall.

Both Jessie Bauguess and his younger brother, a minor, were arrested but police can only reveal charges against the 16-year-old who is being held on $500,000 bond.

They said the exploding pen was intended for a teacher at Turning Point Academy but a student picked it up and removed the cap.

The device burned the hands of the student and sent fragments into his arm and chest.