Youth charged in peanut butter allergy incident

A 19-year-old accused of smearing peanut butter on the forehead of a fellow high school student with a peanut allergy has been charged with assault.

Joshua Hickson of Malaga was charged this week by a city prosecutor. If convicted of the gross misdemeanor, he could face a maximum year in jail and a $5,000 fine.

Police Sgt. Cherie Smith says the targeted student had no allergic reaction.

According to a police report, Hickson was eating lunch Sept. 8 at Wenatchee High School when he heard a conversation that indicated a male student sitting next to him was allergic to peanuts. Officer Steve Evitt says that Hickson smeared his fingers with peanut butter from someone's sandwich and wiped it on the allergic student's forehead.

The officer says Hickson said he didn't think anything would happen.

Hickson was suspended from school; school administrators refused to comment on his current status.

---

Information from: The Wenatchee World, http://www.wenworld.com