Carolina Teacher Gets Hand Slap for Drug Op - Update

(Gaston Country, North Carolina) In early August, 31-year-old English teacher Meredith Pruitt pleaded guilty to possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver a controlled substance, conspiracy to sell or deliver a controlled substance and selling or delivering a controlled substance.

As a result, Pruitt received a 30-month suspended sentence.

In return for her plea, a host of charges were dismissed: manufacturing, selling, delivering or possessing a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a school, hiring or using a minor to commit a controlled substance offense, promoting drug sales by a minor, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and selling or delivering drugs to a minor.[…]

Pruitt won’t be eligible to teach in Gaston County Schools again because of the felonies now on her record, said Gaston County Schools Director of Human Resources John Tutterow.

Gaston County Schools hiring policy doesn’t specifically say that teachers with felony records aren’t hired, but no one working for the school system has a felony conviction, he said.

Pruitt's teaching license may be revoked. Given the reported extent of the drug operation, involving more than a dozen students, I would suggest that Pruitt was treated quite leniently.

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Carolina Teacher Accused of Drug Scheme
[Previous 3/31/12 post]
(Gaston Country, North Carolina) A 31-year-old English teacher at Forestview High School, Meredith Pruitt, has been accused of multiple drug charges for allegedly providing prescription pills to a 15-year-old student who sold the drugs to other students and returned the proceeds to Pruitt.

Pruitt faces counts of possession with intent to sell or deliver a schedule IV controlled substance, selling or delivering a schedule IV controlled substance, promoting drug sales by a minor, selling or delivering a controlled substance to a minor, selling or delivering a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a school, hiring or using a minor to commit a controlled substance offense, conspiracy to sell or deliver a schedule IV controlled substance and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Investigators said they determined that the teacher provided the student with four Clonazepam pills.

Police said the investigation revealed that the student who received the pills then sold them to other students and gave part of the proceeds of the sales to the teacher.

Pruitt was booked into custody at the Gaston County Jail and subsequently released on $15,000 bond.