Teacher Charged with Furnishing Marijuana to Student

SBSO Press Release
The Santa Barbara County District Attorney's Office filed charges today (6-27-07) against a Goleta Valley Junior High School temporary teacher for allegedly furnishing a student with marijuana and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. After a month long investigation, Santa Barbara Sheriff's Detectives presented the District Attorney's office with their findings. Deputy DA Joyce Dudley filed two counts of Contributing and one count of Furnishing against 31 year old Melissa Dunning (11-25-75) after reviewing the Sheriff's Departments complaint.

The Sheriff's Department was first made aware of the allegation on May 31st, 2007. The parents of the victim, a 14 year old Goleta Valley Junior High student, picked their son up from Dunning's home on Spring St. in Santa Barbara. Dunning was reportedly tutoring the student. The victim's parents suspected that they had been smoking marijuana and reported their suspicion to the Sheriff's Department.

Detectives investigating the allegation learned that on three separate occasions, Dunning allegedly smoked marijuana with the 14 year old victim. On one of those occasions, a second 14 year old student participated. Dunning was a temporary teacher at Goleta Valley Junior High, and also worked in various capacities throughout the Santa Barbara School District.

Sheriff's Detectives would like to speak with anyone who may have more information about these allegations. Detectives would also like the cooperation of any other potential victims. Please contact the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department Detective Bureau at 681-4150.