A college student accused of exploding "bottle bombs" on the University of Hawai'i-Hilo campus has made a plea deal with prosecutors.

Edward Emerson Wine II, 20, pleaded no contest Thursday to first-degree terroristic threatening before Hilo Circuit Judge Glenn Hara.

An additional charge of manufacturing and possessing explosive devices was dropped. Both infractions are felonies, carrying a maximum of five years imprisonment. However, the explosives charge carries a mandatory five-year prison term.

Deputy Prosecutor Rick Damerville told the Tribune-Herald that the state is recommending five years' probation and up to a year in jail with all but 90 days stayed "as long as he complies with the terms of probation."

Wine's change of plea from not guilty eliminated the need for a jury trial, which was set to begin May 11.

Wine's attorney, Deputy Public Defender Mirtha Oliveros, cited "possible civil liability" as the reason for the no contest plea. She also requested a deferred acceptance of Wine's plea, which would expunge the felony conviction if Wine abides by conditions set by Hara and does not commit any additional crimes.

"That is a favorable disposition of his case," Hara said, noting that if he decided not to grant the deferral, Wine would have a permanent felony record.

After questioning Wine, Hara accepted the no contest plea and set sentencing for 8 a.m. June 23. The judge did not rule on the deferral request.

"If the judge grants our request for jail time, (Wine) can serve his sentence intermittently, when he's not in school," Damerville said. "He can ask the judge (to expunge his conviction) upon his completion of school.

"We're not agreeing to any request for a deferral until he's shown that he's shaped up by graduating."

Wine, a marine science major who is free on his own recognizance, is accused of fabricating several bottle bombs out of household chemicals, 1-liter plastic bottles and aluminum foil.

Two of the bombs exploded on the UHH campus early the morning of Dec. 18, during fall semester final exams. Part of campus was evacuated.

An Army explosive ordnance disposal team from Fort Shafter in Honolulu was called in to remove one or more apparent "duds" while a Fire Department hazardous materials unit cleaned up the mess left by the blasts.

Damerville cited an article in the Nov. 13, 2008, Santa Rosa (Calif.) Press Democrat reporting that a 68-year-old woman picking up litter in that city's Howarth Park suffered a broken finger and cuts to her face and neck, including an upper lip split to her nose, after a rigged soda bottle exploded in her hand.

"These bottle bombs are a problem everywhere," Damerville continued. "If you go on YouTube, they show you how to make them. They also call them 'MacGyver bombs,' after the TV character who rigged all these homemade devices to get out of trouble.

"Well, MacGyver is a fictional character. In the real world, these things won't get you out of trouble; they'll get you in trouble."

Asked if he thinks Wine, who has been largely stoic in the courtroom, is remorseful, Damerville replied: "I think Mr. Wine is contrite; I think he's bright. I don't think at the time he appreciated the seriousness of his actions. I think he understands now."