Texas Mother Arrested After Allegedly Giving Vodka Jell-O Shots to 5th-Grade Students at School Holiday Party: Affidavit

A Texas mother is facing charges after allegedly giving a classroom of fifth graders Jell-O shots during a school holiday party.

Teresa Bernal was hit with a felony count of injury to a child after multiple students consumed the vodka-laced treats on Dec. 20 at Jones Elementary School in Tyler.

Students had consumed almost all of the shots by the time staff realized that they contained vodka, according to a probable cause arrest affidavit filed in Smith County District Court and obtained by PEOPLE.

Bernal denied knowing that there was any alcohol in the Jell-O shots during an interview with Darrin Grissom, the peace officer for the elementary school.

She also allegedly said that she did not realize Jell-O shot were even made with alcohol until that day, according to the affidavit.

Once teachers became aware of the situation, they sent all students who had consumed any of the Jell-O shots to the school nurse. Grissom writes in the affidavit that he also spoke to 15 of those students, and “nearly all of them reported having stomachaches and headaches.

At least two students had more severe reactions to the shots.

Grissom writes in the affidavit that one student “told me he vomited twice at school that day” while another “‘passed out’ at school that day.”

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The affidavit also notes that some of the Jell-O shots were covered in whipped cream and strawberries, while others were more holiday themed.

Grissom then contacted the store from which Bernal purchased the Jell-O shots, and the individual who took the order agreed to share her exchange with the mother.

The complaint alleges that Bernal asked that person if there was alcohol in the Jell-O shots on the day of the class party. At that point the shots had already been consumed by the children.

Grissom also alleges that the Facebook ad from which Bernal placed her order clearly stated that the shots were made using vodka.

“In my opinion, there is no way Bernal could have missed the fact that the Jello-O shots she purchased … contained drinking alcohol,” Grissom writes in the arrest affidavit.

Bernal was booked into jail on April 21 and her bail is set at $75,000.

She has yet to appear in court and does not have a lawyer at this time.