cannabisnews.com: Teacher Charged with Marijuana Offenses 





Teacher Charged with Marijuana Offenses 
Posted by FoM on February 17, 2000 at 09:03:46 PT
By Debera Carlton Harrell, Seattle P-I Reporter
Source: Seattle P-I
King County prosecutors yesterday charged a Bothell High School teacher with growing and selling marijuana, and the allegations shocked teachers and students who know the veteran educator.Richard Phillip Lewis, a 55-year-old special education teacher, was also charged with money laundering.Neither prosecutors nor police referred to any illegal school-related activities in documents filed with the charges. 
The Northshore School District knows of no job-related activities linking Lewis and marijuana and is conducting its own investigation, spokeswoman Pamela Steele said.Lewis, a 28-year district employee, has been placed on paid administrative leave, even though prosecutors say Lewis is at large."He is innocent until proven guilty," Steele said.Kevin Mumaw, a Bothell High senior and peer tutor, worked with Lewis in his special education classroom."This was totally unexpected," Mumaw said. "We were all shocked. He was really great with the special ed students -- they loved him."According to charging papers, police obtained a warrant to search Lewis' house in Bothell after Bellevue detectives spotted Lewis buying merchandise from a Bellevue business "frequented by marijuana growers."Police found 18 mature marijuana plants and a sophisticated hydroponics (water-growing) system during the Jan. 26 search.Lewis initially claimed the marijuana was for personal use, then admitted selling limited quantities, according to charging papers. Police believe Lewis underestimated the amount of marijuana sold, because the amount left for personal use would be "forty-three joints a day," the papers said.Court documents also cite numerous deposit clips for cash and neighbors reporting "frequent short-term visitors leaving with plastic bags in their hands, which is consistent with marijuana distribution." An arraignment has been set Feb. 24 in King County Superior Court. Prosecutors said Lewis has no prior criminal history and are seeking $10,000 bail. They said he has moved out of his house and "his whereabouts are unknown."Colleagues say Lewis, who was divorced years ago, has a grown son and has been living alone, is "no fugitive." "People who know Rick are stunned," said Penny Pfiester, a long-time friend of Lewis and president of the Northshore Education Association, the teachers' union. "He is truly a champion for children and has worked to make the world a better place," she said. "He cares passionately about students and civil rights and always tried to model that behavior."Pfiester said Lewis has no record of disciplinary actions. He taught leadership classes and was the advisor to an anti-discrimination and -harassment club -- called "Bothell Against Discrimination" -- that he helped form several years ago at Bothell High.Al Haynes, Bothell High School Principal, said each day Lewis taught up to 35 students, most of them with multiple disabilities. He said students and colleagues were shocked and "hurt" to learn of his alleged activities.P-I reporter Debera Carlton Harrell can be reached at 206-448-8326 or deberaharrell seattle-pi.com Send comments to: newmedia seattle-pi.comBothellPublished: Thursday, February 17, 2000© 1998-2000 Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Related Article:Bothell Teacher is Charged with Growing Pothttp://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread4742.shtml
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Comment #3 posted by rainbow on February 17, 2000 at 17:32:06 PT
Maybe a different outlook could help
Maybe he should have received a pay raise so he would not have to traffic just smoke.That would be a just solution considering the "children"Rainbow
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Comment #2 posted by Dave in Florida on February 17, 2000 at 15:53:54 PT
and not only that
The kids in the school have lost a someone who appears to be a wonderful teacher. -"This was totally unexpected," Mumaw said. "We were all shocked. He was really great with the special edstudents -- they loved him.""People who know Rick are stunned," said Penny Pfiester, a long-time friend of Lewis and president of theNorthshore Education Association, the teachers' union. -"He is truly a champion for children and has worked to make the world a better place," she said. "He carespassionately about students and civil rights and always tried to model that behavior."-Pfiester said Lewis has no record of disciplinary actions. He taught leadership classes and was the advisor to ananti-discrimination and -harassment club -- called "Bothell Against Discrimination" -- that he helped formseveral years ago at Bothell High.And untill this happened, he was a fine teacher and his peers thought the world of him. WHAT HAS CHANGED ? HE IS STILL THE SAME GREAT TEACHER !Now they know he smokes pot.
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Comment #1 posted by kaptinemo on February 17, 2000 at 09:47:58 PT
Guilt by shopping
According to charging papers, police obtained a warrant to search Lewis' house in Bothell after Bellevue detectives spotted Lewis buying merchandise from a Bellevue business "frequented by marijuana growers."So, the sole basis for the detectives swearing out a warrant is the man's choice of hardware store?My question is this: why were the detectives spending so much time staking out the shop? Answer: because they are lazy.It takes a lot of effort to catch a murderer. Slightly less to catch a thief or child molester. But still a lot. It's obviously easier - and much more lucrative - for the police to stake out a shop that sells grow lights and then track the buyers back home. Child's play. And since most cannabis users are by nature non-violent, the pinch is equally easy.They must get some really nice warm fuzzies over doing such a hard day's work protecting the public from the dangerous potheads.Meanwhile, killers are loose, thieves take some little old lady's Social Security check, and pervs chase little children. Such a wonderful sense of priorities. Makes you feel real safe - NOT!
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