Star Simpson, the 20-year-old MIT student who was arrested last September for wearing a sweatshirt adorned with an LED panel to Logan Airport, will not receive jail time. East Boston District Judge Paul Mahoney dismissed the charge of possession of a hoax device, a felony, and assigned Simpson to pre-trial probation for the charge of disorderly conduct, reports the Herald.
Simpson was arrested when airport authorities thought her sweatshirt was a bomb, and the case became a flashpoint on the World Wide Web, where Boston's intolerance of LEDs and the rogues who distribute them is not well-liked. (One person even took a "courageous stand" with Simpson, reassuring her that "idiots run everything," a sentiment that echoed the Herald's assessment of Simpson herself (pictured).)
The charge of possession of a hoax device could not be proven against Simpson, as it requires evidence of "intent to cause anxiety, unrest, fear or personal discomfort," according to the Suffolk County D.A.'s office. If Simpson completes her one-year probation without getting into further trouble, the charge of disorderly conduct will likewise be dropped.
Image from the Herald's notorious coverage of Simpson's September arrest.
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