Sentenced to 2-4 years in prison and 5 years probation. 
ARRESTED: Feb 28, 2007 -
John Acerra, 50, Principal of Nitschmann Middle School, was arrested and charged with selling crystal methamphetamine out of his car and his school office.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, police received a tip that Acerra was selling and using crystal meth.ARRAIGNED: He was arraigned on charges of possession with intent to deliver, manufacture or create methamphetamine, two counts of delivery of a controlled or counterfeit substance and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia.
On Thursday, police set up surveillance outside Acerra's home at 832 Chestnut St. in Allentown. Later that evening they allegedly watched and recorded as Acerra sold meth to a man in the parking lot of Kmart, 1502 S. Fourth St.
Police allegedly recorded with a video camera a similar drug deal Saturday in the parking lot of CVS Pharmacy, 314 W. Emmaus Ave. Police then arrested Acerra yesterday when an informant allegedly bought more meth inside Acerra's office at Nitschmann at Eighth Avenue and Union Boulevard .
TT - Our archives show nearly 50 teachers or administrators arrested for drugs since we started the blog in October 2006. Click on label Drugs.
Pdf of criminal arrest complaint.
Mar 1 - New twist or a hacking of news site. Accera "found naked in his school office while watching gay pornography on Tuesday, according to sources. Sex toys were found nearby, the sources added."
Mar 2 - The teachers' union, apparently, complained about Accerra's sporatic attendance at school. Newspaper repeats the naked, watching pornography story. Acerra is being held in prison under $200,000 bail.
A preliminary is scheduled for Tuesday.
Mar 22 - Accera waived his right to a preliminary. He remains in jail in lieu of $200,000 bail. The school accepted his resignation effective Mar 6.
Mar 30 - The Morning Call is wondering why the school investigation of Accerra is dragging on. Then they supply the reason.
Haytmanek, who is leading the probe, blamed himself for the delay.Arraignment is May 3.
He said he inadvertently scared Nitschmann's teachers, secretaries and custodians into not cooperating. Union members thought he threatened them earlier this month when he said district employees had a duty to cooperate with investigators.'
'I didn't mean it in that way,'' Haytmanek said.
He said interviews with Nitschmann staff restarted after the district agreed to let union members bring their attorneys or union lawyers to the meetings. He said he simply wants to know if signs of addiction were missed and if so, what sort of policies and training the district can implement.
Update May 4 - Acerra gave up his right to a formal arraignment. He is scheduled to appear in court for a status conference June 25, according to Prosecutor Steven Luksa. At that time, his attorney, George A. Heitczman of Bethlehem, will announce whether his client is accepting a plea bargain or heading to trial.
Luksa said it is common for defendants to waive formal arraignments to give their attorneys time to develop a strategy. He said it also keeps the case from generating pretrial publicity.
Acerra remains in jail in lieu of a $200,000 bail.
COURT DATE SET: July 25 - The case is continued until Aug. 17 when Acerra may accept a plea deal or decide to go to trial.
GUILTY PLEA: Acerra pleaded guilty to two counts of felony delivery of methamphetamine and one count of felony possession with intent to deliver. He will be sentenced October 18.
SENTENCED Oct 18 - Acerra was sentenced to 2-4 years in prison on charges that he possessed and prepared to sell crystal methamphetamine from his school office. He also will be on probation for five years after that.
Because Acerra has no prior criminal record, each charge fell under a sentencing guideline of three to 12 months. However, a provision in the Pennsylvania crimes code allows prosecutors to seek a two-year minimum for drug sales within 1,000 feet of a school.He won't be eligible for release until Feb 2009.
