Pocono News Section

Teacher Accused of Growing, Packaging Pot

Teacher Accused of Growing, Packaging Pot - Thursday, November 12, 2009 at 2:04PM EST

Reported by: Laurie Monteforte
Thursday, Nov 12, 2009 @ 02:04pm EST
BARRETT TOWNSHIP, MONROE COUNTY - A junior high school teacher is accused of growing and packaging marijuana but she argues it's all a big misunderstanding.

Pocono Mountain West Junior High School Teacher Cynthia Vangilder and her ex boyfriend Bart Tallada were in court Thursday to face drug charges. Both waived their rights to preliminary hearings. Her attorney Thomas Sundmaker said, "This has been devastating to her."

He added that Vangilder knew nothing about any drug growing. He said, "Had she known that was going on she would have reported it."

Earlier this year police investigated a home on Beartown Road in Canadensis. They say they found 16 marijuana plants, many connected to a growing system in the basement. They also found packaging supplies and nearly 100 rice crispy treat squares laced with marijuana. In court Tallada said the drugs were his and he needed them to manage pain from an injury.

Arrest papers show Tallada and Vangilder both lived in that Canadensis home but Sundmaker said that's just not true. He explained, "She moved out of there two years ago."

Vangilder claims she moved out but still used that Beartown Road address on paperwork so her daughter wouldn't have to switch schools. Sundmaker said, "Which the school district isn't very happy about because you're not supposed to do that."

He also said many people could testify that she no longer lived with Tallada. He also said she passed an in depth drug test.

So it seems Vangilder will argue if she's guilty of anything, it's lying about her address.

Vangilder is suspended from her teaching position with pay. Her attorney said he'll try to work something out with the District Attorney's office so his client won't face jail time or end up with a criminal record.