Woman charged with smoking pot with student makes court appearance

KCOY (Video)

SANTA BARBARA - A judge ordered the teacher accused of smoking marijuana with a couple of her students to stay away from them and their families.

Investigators say 31-year-old Melissa Dunning, a temporary teacher at Goleta Valley Junior High, smoked marijuana with a 14-year-old student three different times in recent months.

They say one time another student was there.

The district attorney's office has charged Dunning with furnishing a student with marijuana and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

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KEYT

A teacher accused of smoking marijuana with her students appeared in court. Goleta Junior High School Teacher Melissa Dunning was arraigned on three different felony counts including smoking marijuana with two fourteen year old boys and contributing to the delinquency of minors.

Dunning worked at the Middle School as a temporary teacher for about since March of this year.

Authorities say one of the victim's parents suspected her son had be smoking pot when she picked him up after a tutoring session at Dunning's home.

Investigators say this same incident happened on three separate occasions.

District Attorney Joyce Dudley says the parents of both boys believe justice will be served.

Dunning was ordered to avoid all contact with the boys and their families. She will make another court appearance later this month to face charges.