Jared Cano has spent more than a year behind bars waiting for trial to face charges that he threatened to blow up Freedom High School in Tampa on the first day of the 2011 school year.
But on Wednesday, Cano's lawyer, Norman Cannella Sr., told a judge the 18-year-old will plead no contest in October. "In today's atmosphere, it would have been difficult with the facts that would come out to convince a jury that my client was innocent," Cannella said.
Tampa Police investigators have said Cano had materials to make bombs and a plan to carry out a Columbine High School-style attack at Freedom High, but a fellow student alerted police before Cano could carry out the alleged plan.
Cano's lawyer said it's time for his client to put the situation behind him and move on. "The best case scenario for him is that he would be spared the label of a felon at this early age," Cannella said, "and that he would be able to rehabilitate himself -- get his thinking in a more orderly fashion."
The worst case scenario for Cano would be 30 years behind bars. The ultimate decision of punishment will be up to a Tampa judge taking many factors into consideration. Cannella hopes to convince the court there is another side to his client. He said Cano has made positive changes behind bars, such as earning his GED.
"I intend to have a psychologist who is respected testify," Cannella said, "and family members to give the judge some understanding of who he is. At this point the judge doesn't know who he is, other than she knows what he's charged with."
Cano will make his plea in front of a judge October 16.
After that, Cannella is hoping an appellate court will dismiss the charges against his client, something a Tampa judge refused to do earlier this year.