Mass. men plead guilty to setting off fireworks in Harvard Medical School

Two Massachusetts men pleaded guilty in federal court on Friday after detonating fireworks at Harvard Medical School last fall.

Logan David Patterson, 18, of Plymouth, and Dominick Frank Cardoza, 21, of Bourne, were both charged for conspiracy to damage by means of an explosive, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. The men both agreed to a plea deal, according to court filings.

The U.S. Attorney's Office said conspiracy charge to damage by means of an explosive typically has a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. According to court filings, the U.S. Attorney's Office is not requiring prison time for the two men, but prosecutors recommend three years of supervised release and full restitution to the school.

U.S. District Court Judge Angel Kelley is scheduled to issue their sentences on Aug. 4.

The two men were arrested in November after surveillance cameras captured them walking toward the Harvard Medical School campus wearing face coverings and dark clothing early in the morning after Halloween.

Federal prosecutors said security footage showed them lighting large commercial fireworks, or "roman candles," inside a wooden locker in the Goldenson Building on the medical school campus. Harvard officials said no one was injured and there was minimal damage to property.

Kevin Reddington and Stefan Rozembersky, the attorneys for Patterson and Cardoza respectively, did not respond to requests for comment Friday.

Rozembersky previously said the charges were "a seemingly significant overcharge" by the federal court and called the incident a "simple case of property damage."