The Newton County Sheriff’s Office responded to two calls concerning marijuana in Newton County high schools recently.
The first incident occurred Dec. 4 at Newton High School, and the second Tuesday at Alcovy High School.
The Newton High student was a 14-year-old minor, who had a juvenile complaint filed, and the Alcovy student was 17-year old Derrick Lamar Smith of Conyers, who was arrested on drug possession/manufacture/distribution of marijuana within 1,000 feet of public or private schools.
According to NCSO Sgt. Felicia Jefferson the two cases make 21 arrests since Jan. 1, 2014 for drugs in Newton County Schools, including the alternative school.
In both recent cases administrators brought the students forward to NCSO.
At Newton High, the administrator was notified by a teacher, who smelled a strong odor of marijuana coming from the juvenile, according to Jefferson. According to reports a juvenile complaint was filed and the student was released into the custody of their parent.
Tuesday, an Alcovy High administrator was alerted of drugs at their school, and according to reports, searched a student’s vehicle at approximately 10:30 a.m. The search resulted in a black bag found in the hood of the vehicle.
“Inside the bag was a mason jar filled with individual bags of a substance believed to be marijuana and also enclosed in the bag was a digital scale,” the report said.
According to the Newton County School System handbook on discipline code rules and dispositions a drug violation includes “selling of or attempting to sell, purchase, distribution of, possession of, use of drugs (except as required for self-administering asthma medication as detailed in the discipline- code of conduct) or under the influence of drugs on school property or at a school function.”
The above-mentioned offense results in a minimum 10-day suspension, and the student will be referred to a formal hearing. According to Georgia code, the school’s principal or designee shall notify law enforcement officials regarding illegal drugs on campus.
