Independent - Goleta Bans Medical Pot

The Santa Barbara Independent - Goleta Bans Medical Pot

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Noozhawk.com - Goleta Council Votes to Prohibit Medical Marijuana Dispensaries

Teacher in Court for Sharing Marijuana with Students

KEYT

A local teacher pleaded not guilty to smoking marijuana with her students. Melissa Dunning appeared in court this morning for her arraignment.

The former teacher is accused of smoking pot with two 14-year-old boys during a tutoring session at her Santa Barbara home. Police say there may have been three different occasions when she did this with students.

Dunning worked at Goleta Valley Junior High School as a temporary teacher.

She faces three felony counts including contributing to the delinquency of minors. She will be back in court next month for her preliminary.

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KCOY

SANTA BARBARA - A former Santa Barbara County teacher accused of smoking marijuana with a couple of her students says she didn't do it.

Melissa Dunning Monday pleaded not guilty to a felony county of furnishing pot to a minor and two misdemeanor counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Dunning worked as a temporary teacher at Goleta Valley Junior High School.

Investigators say she smoked marijuana with a 14-year-old student a few times, while tutoring him at her home.

On one occasion, deputies say another student smoked with them.

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.

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.