The boy’s disposition hearing is set for 3:30 p.m. May 6 in Leavenworth County District Court.

Thompson said the plea was taken because the boy was 12 years old, had no prior criminal history and is now being home-schooled by his parents.

While a sixth-grader at TMS in January, the boy brought the device, which Tonganoxie police described as a cardboard BB wrapper that had been packed with BBs and the powder of two M-80s. Tonganoxie mayor and police dispatcher Mike Vestal said in January the bomb had the potential to injure or kill people if ignited. Police said it was equivalent to one-third of a stick of dynamite. According to law enforcement and school officials, the boy had no intent to cause harm when he brought the device to school.

The Leavenworth City/County Bomb Squad safely detonated the device at a nearby rock quarry.