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.