Teen accused of firecracker recklessness bailed out of jail

Seventeen-year-old Daniel Berger, according to prosecutors, tossed some lighted firecrackers into a group of students at Ballston Spa High School Thursday morning. Later that day he was charged with criminla possession of a weapon - a felony - and reckless endangerment, which is a misdemeanor.  No one was injured but  some students were said to have thought someone was firing a gun.

For part of the day, Berger was held in the Saratoga County Jail. He appeared calm in Ballston Town Court with his hands cufffed and his ankles shackled, wearing ankle-high white socks, purple sneakers, short pants and a grey hooded shirt. He left court after his family bailed him out.

Berger's attorney, Mark Major, says Berger expressed concern about a college scholarship and described his client as someone who is normally not irresponsible.

District Attorney James Murphy said his office is treating the case seriously and pointed out state lawmakers toughened laws governing the use of incendiary devices after the 1999 shootings at Columbine High School in Colorado and other similar incidents across the country.