Drug charges against N.C. teachers dropped

MANTEO

Drug and traffic charges against three First Flight High School teachers were dropped by the state Tuesday after the owner of the vehicle took responsibility.

Steven Dewayne Gordy of Kitty Hawk pleaded guilty in Dare County District Court to possession of drug paraphernalia, a misdemeanor.

In return, the state dropped misdemeanor marijuana and alcohol possession charges against Gordy and all the charges against the teachers, Assistant District Attorney Ericka James said.

Gordy, 49, owned the 2001 Toyota pickup driven by First Flight High School teacher Joseph Tyson, 27, of Kill Devil Hills when he was arrested in Frisco on March 21. Two other teachers from the school, Adam Herman, 49, of Nags Head and Corey Hutcherson, 32, of Kill Devil Hills were with Tyson in the truck.

The three teachers each had been charged with misdemeanor possession of marijuana and paraphernalia, a metal pipe. Tyson was also charged with minor driving offenses and with transporting an alcoholic beverage in the passenger area, and Herman was also charged with misdemeanor possession of three tablets of Percocet, a narcotic painkiller.

District Court Judge Edgar Barnes sentenced Gordy to 45 days in jail, suspended, and 12 months' probation. The judge also fined him $100 and ordered him to pay the $125 court costs.

The teachers had been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of Tuesday's court appearances.

Catherine Kozak, (252) 441-1711, cate.kozak@pilotonline.com