Savage, a communicative sciences and disorders freshman, faced felony charges carrying sentences of up to 20 years in prison for her alleged involvement in a firework prank on Nov. 1, 2009. Three other MSU students — premedical freshman Olivia Hudson, economics freshman Darby Dudley and pre-law freshman Nikolai Wasielewski — faced similar charges.

The charges stem from a prank where the four freshmen allegedly threw a firework into the yard of another MSU student on Grove Street. Hudson and Dudley pleaded guilty to reduced misdemeanor charges and were sentenced to probation on March 3. Wasielewski, who has maintained his innocence, will face trial.

Savage’s lawyer George Zulakis said the prosecutor’s office dropped the charges because his client was innocent.

“First of all, her involvement in the incident was less than any of the others in the vehicle, significantly less,” Zulakis said. “And second, she cooperated with the police and the prosecutor’s office.”

He said although Savage is relieved, she still is facing the repercussions of the case. He said MSU officials initially suspended Savage for two years from the university. Her suspension was reduced to one semester and she is appealing to be reinstated immediately. Zulakis said it’s ironic that Savage’s case was dropped and she still faces suspension, whereas her co-defendant Hudson received only a month suspension and has been reinstated despite pleading guilty.
MSU can not publicly discuss a student’s suspension.

Wasielewski’s lawyer, Mike Nichols, said his client will go to trial to fight the felony charges he faces, which hold a maximum penalty of 15 years.

Nichols said at Wasielewski’s Feb. 25 pretrial, the prosecuting attorneys were upset with Wasielewski because he refused to cooperate with the prosecutor’s office. Nichols said the prosecutor’s office wanted Wasielewski to plead guilty to his involvement, but said his client is innocent.

A representative from the prosecutor’s office said the trial was scheduled to continue. Ingham County Prosecutor Stuart Dunnings III was unavailable for comment Monday. Nichols said he is unsure when Wasielewski will go to court for his trial.

“It’s kind of just hanging over his head,” Nichols said.