MOUNT VERNON — In the past few days, rumors have been circulating through Mount Vernon High School that one or more students were apprehended stealing and/or selling prescription drugs such as Xanax, and got sent to time out.
Principal Kathy Kasler confirmed a “drug incident” was reported, and said the administration has dealt with the situation. She added that she could not disclose who was involved, how the incident was handled or the consequences, but did say “it was more than just a time out.”
Generally speaking, according to Julie Doup, deputy clerk for the juvenile court, if someone at the high school finds out something like that is going on, they usually contact law enforcement. Law enforcement then does the investigation.
Whenever law enforcement is called in on something like that, Doup said, and does a report, if the children are juveniles, the report is forwarded to the county prosecutor’s office for review. If the prosecutor’s office thought the incident warranted charges, the individuals involved would be charged accordingly. Doup said any kind of trafficking in prescription drugs is taken very seriously.
The charges that are filed on things like that, she said, depend on what type of drug is involved.
“The drugs are assigned according to schedules, and I think that has a lot to do with what the charge is,” she said. “It could be a felony. Depending on the schedule, it could be a higher degree of felony even if only one tablet is exchanged — it’s on school property. You’re not allowed to peddle off your prescriptions to somebody else. It’s a pretty serious offense.”
Doup said Mount Vernon High School especially is very good about cooperating with law enforcement.
“They don’t usually try to handle things like that on their own, at least not that I’m aware of,” she said.
