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Opp High student arrested
Allegedly tried to sell prescription drugs at school
Published Wednesday, September 30, 2009
An Opp High School student was arrested Monday for allegedly trying to sell prescription pills to fellow students on the OHS campus.
Jamie K. Owens, 18, was taken into custody shortly after classes began, after his alleged actions were reported by other students to school faculty.
“Mr. Owens had (allegedly) taken the pills to OHS to sell, but the school faculty was alerted to what he as trying to do,” said Drug Task Force agent David Harrell Tuesday. “He was caught with the pills, which were two Lortab pills, in his possession,” he said.
“Students (at Opp High School) are good enough to understand what’s right and what’s wrong,” he said. “And the staff handled the incident promptly. Opp is fortunate to have the people they have in the school system.
“They have a zero tolerance for illegal activity on school grounds and are very diligent about addressing problems and coming up with solutions.”
Owens has been charged with possession of controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and attempted distribution a controlled substance. He was booked into the Covington County Jail and held on an $113,000 bond.
Opp Schools superintendent Michael Smithart declined to comment on Owens’ student status, citing privacy laws; however, he did state, “Any time a student is charged with a Class III offense as defined in our Student Code of Conduct, he/she is immediately suspended until an expulsion hearing can be held.”
He also stated that under Alabama Code, a person found to have violated the school board’s policy would not be readmitted to the school until two conditions are met. First, the criminal charges must be disposed of, and second, the person must satisfy all other requirements imposed by the school board as a condition for readmission.
Comments
Posted by bamagirl07 (anonymous) on September 30, 2009 at 9:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This is so sad. I am assuming he is a senior since he is 18. It would be ashamed if he was to be expelled this close to graduating. But it is what it is. That's a serious charge. I know someone just recently charged with the same things (except his was distribution and not attempted). His bail was set higher and sat in jail for over a month in andalusia before his hearing. Now he is ordered to rehab for over a year. No coming home at all during this time. Maybe that is what this young man needs. I don't know. It's just a sad thing.
Posted by DastardlyFellow (anonymous) on September 30, 2009 at 9:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with bamagirl. It is a shame that these problems are entering our schools. OHS is blessed to have a great staff and the Opp community helps to raise children with level heads (for the most part). I am just glad that the whole situation was handled accordingly.
Posted by hammer1 (anonymous) on September 30, 2009 at 10:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It is so sad that a child in school thinks it is ok to take are sell drugs. I hope he gets the help he needs. And I applaued the School System for their stance.
Posted by Patrick (anonymous) on September 30, 2009 at 10:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Zero Tolerance Policy - No Brain Policy
These are one in the same. Why not pay principles and administrators minimum wage if we don't want them to use their brains?
Let the punishment fit the crime. $113,000 for possession of 2 lortabs! Boy, he doesn't have the correct parents.
Posted by bamabelle (anonymous) on September 30, 2009 at 10:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The school didn't set the bond, the judicial system did. There is a little bit of a backwards view in this county right now in which people facing drug charges are receiving higher bonds than those facing charges for aggressive and more dangerous crimes. In this instance, though, the higher bond is likely largely based upon the fact that this incident occurred in a school. Drug offenses carry much stiffer penalties per the law if offenses occur on school grounds. I agree that the bond should fit the crime, but in this drug case, I actually think it does fit. Regardless of that, the issue is the fact that this kid knew that he was doing wrong, and he is being punished for that. I congratulate the students and faculty at Opp High School for handling this swiftly before it became a bigger issue. I hope this young man gets the help that he needs, and he has that opportunity now that he has been caught.
Posted by bamagirl07 (anonymous) on September 30, 2009 at 12:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I have to agree bamabelle about the backwards view on punishment of crime. Although it is wrong to have ANY drug..all that for lortab?? But the bond being set that high doesn't have to do with the fact he was on campus. The reason I say that is because the guy I was talking about earlier, his bond was over 200,000 and he had lortab. I think there are other issues going on in this country that deserve higher bonds than people selling lortab. That's nothing compared to what kids are taking/selling today. Not that I am defending what this young man did by any means. But I would have to agree with you on that.
Posted by szyQ (anonymous) on September 30, 2009 at 12:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yes, its common practice for Covington Co. to set rediculously high bail amounts, especially when it comes to drug offenses.
Posted by szyQ (anonymous) on September 30, 2009 at 12:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
For example, just look at the "RECORDS" section of this paper on arrests "(• Donald Windsor Macqueen, 28, on charges of failure to register as sex offender and failure to provide address change as sex offender and held on $40,000 bond.)
I guess a couple of pain pills is more dangerous to the community than a convicted sex offender who doesn't follow the rules.
Posted by publicfacts (anonymous) on September 30, 2009 at 5:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It is a shame that more can't be done to help these people who have become addicted to drugs. Something has gone terribly wrong with our society. I am not supporting drug use but too many times tylenol or motrin would be as effective for reducing pain if our physicians hadn't abuse their right to prescribe these drugs for every little thing decreasing a persons own body's ability to cope with discomfort. The more drugs you take the more your body requires, because your body has built up a higher tolerance for these drugs, same goes for alcohol. Physicians know what they are doing, just tell one you don't need the pain meds and they act like something is wrong with you. Once you have deceased your body's ability to deal with pain, anxiety, so forth and so on, you are hooked. We do have to be careful what we say these people get it from all sides, their body's craving, their own personal shame and guilt, their losses, the law, then from people who they thought were their friend. Every day you or your family doesn't deal with this problem, look to heaven and thank God. For all the others don't expect mercy if you haven't shown any. For our law enforcement, when possible show kindness they are not all equal, I can understand your harshness to a certain degree with repeat offenders, but for the first timers give them a little break, we all know plenty of law enforcement who are not what they should be nor do they do their job for the right reason.
Posted by outlaw11 (anonymous) on September 30, 2009 at 5:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
As far as this young man goes, he may have a juv'ie record, and comes from a troubled family...I don't know, but, his bond denotes that there were problems before and they had to do with his family/or/lack thereof...so, the bond is not too high...szyQ, you are correct, it should be higher and if we don't vote in people who represent us, then, this crap will continue.
Posted by outlaw11 (anonymous) on September 30, 2009 at 5:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
And, might I add that most dealers are not users...they have other debts to pay, cars, condos, etc...they are trained by upper level distributors and, mostly not caught.With that said, I quit...have a good weekend.
Posted by blogwatcher (anonymous) on September 30, 2009 at 11:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Publicfacts.....thank you for a well formed fact, and for being aware of what it is....and what it is...is what it is.
Posted by dusty18 (anonymous) on October 1, 2009 at 5:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
A lot can be done in the battle against drugs. And i think the school and the county have taken steps in the right direction. Bail should be high. There are several crimes here. He had illegal drugs - he was dealing - he was on campus. Do any of us think this is the first time he tried to do this? Where did the pills come from? And what really concerns me is who were his customers at school. His circle of friends? This is a heads up for parents. I dont think anyone plans on getting addicted to drugs. I will NOT fault the parents. Too many times i have seen what we all call good kids do stupid things. We did/ I did. But this is the time for this young man to fess up and talk. I think there is a lot more to this story
Posted by hiflyin (anonymous) on October 1, 2009 at 9:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If his family has money the "system" will go after that first, then when they have everything they have the young man will be delth with.
Sad that his life is ruined over 2 pill's that don't even kill pain. The person/s that rated him out should be happy for doing what they did.
Posted by publicfacts (anonymous) on October 1, 2009 at 4:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm sorry but I just had to comment to "hiflyin" you are absolutely correct if you have a little money or a lot they are going to get it. Then someway they don't really care, because you are nothing in their eyes, a person or family are still expected to pay their normal everyday bills in addition to everything the law puts upon them and sometimes the person has to go to rehab, then if they don't have to go to prison, they need a job, but no one wants to hire them and it doesn't matter they have gotten their lives straight. If they do get a job, they are usually paid less and expected to do more than the normal person would have to do. Then before you know it, unless they are one of the small percent who gets a break or come from a wealthy family, they become depressed and the cycle starts again. In my business I see a lot of this. I wish it was as cut and dry as the average person thinks it is. Look at all the movie stars and athletes that our society admires and most of them are guilty of every atrocity that can be named. But good ole Americans love them just the same.
Posted by winkie (anonymous) on October 1, 2009 at 9:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Its sad to say but there are children younger than 18, much younger, selling pills at school. A child has to see other's selling pill's to know they can sell them.
Posted by bubba (anonymous) on October 3, 2009 at 3:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
publicfacts and hiflyin, you're both wrong on one thing. If this kid's parents had money, none of this would be in the paper. The parents would have been called and an apology made for even disrupting their day with something as insignficant as "boys being boys".
It's all about money and popularity. Take the Sheriff's, or the Mayor's, or any election for instance. Whomever spends the most money will always win. Why? Because he is friends with everyone else who has money and when these people tell the "regular folks" (like the people who read and write on this silly blog site) to go out and vote for "this ol' boy" 'cause he's "one of us reg'lar folks", everyone runs out and does it. So, live with it because it will never change, people. I hate it and always have.
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