TOUTED TEACHER, HUSBAND FACING MULTIPLE CHARGES

An elementary teacher and a youth counselor were charged Wednesday
with four drug counts involving marijuana found on their property.
[indentity deleted] surrendered to police after a search warrant was
served at their property.

They were charged with cultivation of marijuana, unlawful possession
of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of drug
paraphernalia and failure to obtain a drug tax stamp.

Acting on a tip, police searched their house about 8 p.m. Nov. 23.

Police found 33 mature marijuana plants -- all taller than 6 feet --
in a backyard shed, said [location deleted] police Maj. Mark Irwin,
who heads special investigations. Police also recovered 16 saplings,
a half-pound of the drug, growing lights, pipes, growing books and
magazines, nine assault rifles and two handguns.

The couple were not home during the search, but the next morning,
[name deleted] surrendered to police. [name deleted] surrendered Monday.

As of Wednesday afternoon, [name deleted] was being held in the Tulsa
County jail in lieu of $13,750 bail.

Keith Isbell, spokesman for [location deleted] Public Schools, said
the teacher was last in school Nov. 22. She was suspended Wednesday
with pay pending her case's outcome.

She has taught in the system for four years and her annual salary is
$34,812.40.

[name deleted] recently was selected as the school's teacher of the
year and was in the running with 23 others for district teacher of the year.

District teachers don't take drug tests upon hiring, Isbell said.

[name deleted] posted $13,750 bail Monday. Elicia Bunch, health
system associate administrator, said the counselor, who had four
years' experience there, was suspended last week without pay.

He worked with children and adolescents showing emotional and
behavior problems, Bunch said.

[location deleted] police said the couple had no previous criminal record.