Teacher leaves “candy” out in the open in her classroom, now she’s arrested after two students took a bite

A teacher at an Indiana high school is now facing criminal charges after two of her students ate THC gummies that were left in the classroom. The students thought they were eating normal candy and had no idea the gummies contained marijuana.

According to People, the situation unfolded at Angola High School in Angola, Indiana. School officials found out on that two students had eaten the THC edibles the previous day during their last class. The Steuben County Sheriff’s Office posted information about what happened on their Facebook page.

“The two students involved were in class at the time of the incident and were unaware that the candy they ate contained THC,” the Sheriff’s Office wrote. Authorities say 49-year-old Debra L. McGillem, a teacher from Reading, Michigan, brought the THC-laced candy into her classroom. The sheriff’s office explained that the students who ate the gummies were in class when it happened and genuinely believed they were eating regular candy.

This wasn’t the only problem police found that day

Police discovered even more food items in McGillem’s belongings that appeared to contain THC. After the discovery, McGillem got in her car and drove herself to the sheriff’s office so investigators could ask her questions.

While talking to McGillem at the station, officers noticed things that made them suspect she had driven to their office while under the influence. This observation led to an additional charge being added to her case.

McGillem ended up getting booked into the Steuben County Jail that same day. Prosecutors are looking at charging her with two felonies for neglecting a dependent and having a controlled substance on school grounds. She’s also being charged with drunk driving related to her trip to the police station. The judge set her bond at $6,500, and records show she stayed in jail through at least Saturday.

The school district put out a statement late Friday evening. Superintendent Matthew Widenhoefer posted on Facebook saying the district was aware one of their employees had been arrested and jailed. He explained that school officials started looking into the matter right away and would handle discipline according to their rules and the law. 

School records list McGillem as a language arts teacher at the high school. Once word got out about her arrest, several students posted messages defending their teacher online. This comes as concerns about teacher conduct in schools continue to make headlines across the country.

“The school district is aware that an MSDSC staff member has been booked into the Steuben County Jail. The district has initiated an internal investigation, and appropriate disciplinary action will be taken in accordance with district policy and applicable law,” Metropolitan School District of Steuben County Superintendent Matthew Widenhoefer said on Facebook. 

A senior student named Josh Carroll wrote on Facebook that McGillem was easily the best teacher in the whole building. “Im (sic) a senior at Angola High-school and she was the best teacher in that school by far,” Carroll wrote on Facebook. “She doesn’t deserve all the hate and disrespect.

She’s a human being, people make mistakes just like we all do.” The incident has sparked discussions about challenges teachers face in modern classrooms. Nobody knows yet if McGillem has gotten a lawyer to help her with the charges.