CU Pot Brownie Suspect Faces 18 Felony Charges

BOULDER, Colo. (CBS4) - A University of Colorado student now knows the serious charges he faces. He's accused of bringing brownies laced with marijuana to class.

Thomas Cunningham, 21, was back before a judge in Boulder County Wednesday afternoon. He and Mary Essa, 19, are accused of giving their classmates and a professor the baked goods without saying what was inside. Eight people got sick with three needing hospital care.

Cunningham was formally charged with the crime Wednesday and now faces 18 felony charges.

He walked into court escorted by this mother without saying anything. He bonded out of jail on Monday night.

Cunningham has also been expelled from CU. His parents want to take him home to Fort Worth, Texas before his next court date.

The following are the charges he is facing:

- 8 second-degree assault charges
- 8 charges of inducing consumption of controlled substance by fraudulent means
- 2 two counts of conspiracy

Cunningham will be back in district court end of January.

Essa is scheduled to hear the charges against her in court on Thursday.