Wiscasset student charged with trafficking drugs

Wed, 04/01/2015 - 4:30pm

A 14-year-old Wiscasset High School student allegedly hid more than 150 stolen pills inside a Pringles can before being arrested March 27, according to a Wiscasset Police Department press release.

The student's father contacted staff at the high school and said that his son may have pills on him that were stolen from a relative.

“(The father) said the pills had allegedly been stolen from a family member that the 14-year-old suspect had been staying with,” the release states.

The 14-year-old has been charged with aggravated trafficking in schedule W drugs, a class B crime, which was increased to a class A crime due to the alleged crime taking place in a school. Class A crimes are punishable by up to 30 years incarceration and a $50,000 fine.

Principal Cheri Towle brought the student to the office and searched his backpack in front of the school nurse, according to the release.

“The nurse discovered nine separate Ziploc baggies containing assorted prescription pills hidden in a Pringles can that was in his backpack,” the release states.

The school then contacted Wiscasset School Resource Officer Perry Hatch, who responded to the school and took possession of the pills, according to the release.

“I would like to commend the father of the juvenile for his quick and decisive action to contact the administration of the school,” Police Chief Troy Cline said in the release. “Staff at Wiscasset High School should also be commended for their rapid response in locating and seizing the drugs.”

The 163 pills were separated into Ziploc baggies and were labeled with per-pill prices; the release states the prices and pills were as follows: Amitriptyline 25mg, $5 per pill; Cyclobenzaprine 10mg, $5 per pill; Diazepam 5mg, $3 per pill;Endocet (Acetaminophen & Oxycodone 325mg/5mg), $7 per pill; Lorazepam 0.5mg, $3 per pill; Oxycontin 20mg, $25 per pill; Tramadol (Acetaminophen and Tramadol 325mg/37.5mg), $8 per pill; Tylenol 3 (Acetaminophen and Codeine Phosphate 300mg/30mg), $7 per pill; and Vicodin (Acetaminophen and Hydrocodone Bitartrate 325mg/5mg), $7 per pill.

The release states that police suspect the student may have been planning to sell the assorted pills during a dance that was scheduled at the school the night of March 27. Students from five high schools were due to attend the dance.

“Everyone involved in this response helped to avert a potentially tragic and deadly situation had the drugs been sold or given to any of the students,” Cline said in the release.