Even respected individuals within a South Carolina community may face criminal charges related to drugs. Citizens of Richland County, South Carolina recently received a reminder of that fact as authorities have arrested an assistant principal at the school on multiple drug charges.
Following a tip received last Tuesday, law enforcement conducted a two-day investigation of the 29-year-old man’s home. Upon discovering that the assistant principal was in possession of controlled substances, authorities arrested him.
The school district that employs the assistant principal released a statement saying that the district is aware of the charges, has placed the assistant principal on administrative leave and is cooperating with law enforcement but declines to comment further on an ongoing criminal investigation.
Specific charges against the assistant principal include the following:
- Possession of a Schedule 4 narcotic (Xanax)
- Possession of a Schedule 2 narcotic (Adderall)
- Possession of marijuana with intent to distribute
- Possession of cocaine with intent to distribute
However, despite the charges of possession with intent to distribute, there is currently no evidence of the assistant principal distributing drugs to students at the school. No information regarding bail is available to the public at this time.
In addition to legal penalties, conviction on drug charges can have a severe negative effect upon a person’s standing within the community, especially if one is in a position in which one works closely with children. Therefore, people who suspect they are under criminal investigation may wish to consult with an attorney and may not necessarily need to wait for formal charges to do so.