A recent undercover investigation has resulted in three arrests, including that of a former substitute teacher, on drug charges.
David Scott Phillips, 49, and Debra Phillips, 48, were arrested by the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office following a Dec. 10 search of their home on Pirklewood Circle.
They were each charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and three counts of possession of synthetic narcotics.
In addition, each faces two counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
Sandra Ledbetter, 49, who was at the house when authorities arrived, was charged with possession of marijuana.
All three suspects have been released from the Forsyth County Detention Center after posting separate bonds, which a jail spokeswoman said ranged from $88,660 for the Phillips to $1,155 for Ledbetter.
Sheriff’s investigators said two guns, several pills and about 10 ounces of suspected marijuana were recovered in the search.
Candy Norton, chief human resources officer for the Forsyth County school district, said Debra Phillips was disqualified from the list of substitutes after officials learned of her arrest.
She said Phillips’ employment with the district began this fall and she had worked “a couple of days” at one of the elementary schools.
Norton said the district has a pool of about 1,500 substitute teachers from which to choose.
“When they are cleared to sub, they could never work or they could be called on every day,” Norton explained. “Theoretically, you could be cleared as a sub but not ever work for us.”
She said criminal background checks through state and FBI databases are conducted on those applying for substitute work. Applicants also have to submit fingerprints and their references are checked.
“We had no reason to be concerned about employing her at all,” Norton said.
Sheriff’s Lt. Col. Gene Moss said it appears the couple was selling drugs out of the house.
“The master bathroom shower had been converted to a weigh station,” he said, adding that authorities found digital scales, plastic sandwich bags and a calculator, among other items, in the room.
Moss said there was no evidence that Phillips sold drugs to students.
David Scott Phillips, 49, and Debra Phillips, 48, were arrested by the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office following a Dec. 10 search of their home on Pirklewood Circle.
They were each charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and three counts of possession of synthetic narcotics.
In addition, each faces two counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
Sandra Ledbetter, 49, who was at the house when authorities arrived, was charged with possession of marijuana.
All three suspects have been released from the Forsyth County Detention Center after posting separate bonds, which a jail spokeswoman said ranged from $88,660 for the Phillips to $1,155 for Ledbetter.
Sheriff’s investigators said two guns, several pills and about 10 ounces of suspected marijuana were recovered in the search.
Candy Norton, chief human resources officer for the Forsyth County school district, said Debra Phillips was disqualified from the list of substitutes after officials learned of her arrest.
She said Phillips’ employment with the district began this fall and she had worked “a couple of days” at one of the elementary schools.
Norton said the district has a pool of about 1,500 substitute teachers from which to choose.
“When they are cleared to sub, they could never work or they could be called on every day,” Norton explained. “Theoretically, you could be cleared as a sub but not ever work for us.”
She said criminal background checks through state and FBI databases are conducted on those applying for substitute work. Applicants also have to submit fingerprints and their references are checked.
“We had no reason to be concerned about employing her at all,” Norton said.
Sheriff’s Lt. Col. Gene Moss said it appears the couple was selling drugs out of the house.
“The master bathroom shower had been converted to a weigh station,” he said, adding that authorities found digital scales, plastic sandwich bags and a calculator, among other items, in the room.
Moss said there was no evidence that Phillips sold drugs to students.