USC student sent to PTI after spitting, putting cleaner in roommates’ food

A University of South Carolina student is being given the chance to avoid prison for spitting and pouring a household cleaner into her roommates’ food a year ago, her lawyer said Friday.

Hayley King is going into pre-trial intervention after being recorded by roommates spitting into multiple containers of food and pouring cleaner into one in an apartment they shared off campus.

“While some have tried to mischaracterize this incident as an attempted poisoning, my client regrets her actions and never had any intention to hurt anyone, “ said Seth Rose, King’s lawyer.

“There are other facts of this case that were unknown to the public,” said Rose, a Richland county councilman. “That's why we ask anyone who has been bullied to go through the proper channels and seek assistance from local authorities rather than acting on your own."

Officials at the 5th Circuit Solicitor’s Office couldn’t be reached for comment.

King’s two roommates told police they set up cameras in the apartment because they were afraid of what she might do after fights. The roommates tried to get King to move after the squabbles but she refused, they told police.

Police viewed the recordings and watched King open the refrigerator, pick up several containers and spit into them. She also poured cleaner into one.

King faces a charge of malicious tampering with food and could be sentence up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

Pre-rrial intervention is designed for first-time offenders charged with nonviolent offenses. It includes a prison tour, community service and help specific to the criminal charge.

This story was originally published January 29, 2016 at 3:46 PM with the headline "USC student sent to PTI after spitting, putting cleaner in roommates’ food."