FITCHBURG, Mass. (AP) -- A former Fitchburg State University student who was arrested on campus the day after he was expelled while wearing a military-style ammunition belt has been sentenced to a year of probation.
Andrew Despres of New Bedford was arrested in December the day after he was expelled for other infractions, then charged with illegal possession of a belt of semi-automatic-rifle ammunition, even though the shell casings had no bullets in them and were inert.
The Telegram & Gazette reports that the 20-year-old Despres pleaded guilty on Thursday to the trespassing charge and the ammunition charge was dismissed.
His lawyer and his mother said the ammo belt was simply a fashion statement bought online for $20 and he had worn it numerous times before without problems.