Arrested in December 2006, she was still on the payroll 16 months later.
Sentenced to one year in jail - with part of that in a drug treatment facility.
ARRESTED Dec 6, 2006 - A Loxley Elementary School teacher,
Christy Philips, 30, was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance, second-degree possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia after a raid at her home. In addition to finding methamphetamine, police arrested another individual who had a half pound of marijuana.
Full Name: Christy Byrd Philips
The assistant school superintendent said that teachers are not drug-tested, but they must pass a criminal background check in order to work for the school system.
"The position of the superintendent (Faron Hollinger) is that drug testing should not only include students but teachers as well," Wilhite said. "And the fact is that we believe teachers would welcome that opportunity to make a statement that we're serious about drug-free campuses in Baldwin County."ON TRIAL April 9, 2008 - Philips testified in her own trial Tuesday. She told a jury that she checked herself in at a rehabilitation center just after she was released from the Baldwin County Corrections Center in December 2006. She testified that she spent 17 days in treatment for addiction to prescription medication such as OxyContin, which she took for muscle pain and arthritis. She denies the charges of methamphetamine and marijuana use that led to her arrest two years ago.
JURY DELIBERATES April 10 - While she still collects a paycheck, her attorney says has no intention of teaching in Baldwin or Mobile counties again, defense attorney E.E. Ball told jurors. The jury is deliberating.
GUILTY VERDICT April 11 - Philips was convicted of possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 22.
SENTENCED May 23 - Philips was sentenced to 10 years, SUSPENDED, to serve one year in jail - not prison - and a part of the year in jail could be served at an in-patient treatment center. She will be on supervised probation for at least five years. If she violates any condition of her probation, such as testing positive for drugs, Phillips could be locked up for 10 years, the judge told her.
