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Teacher Arrested In Grow House Raid

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By ELAINE SILVESTRINI

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 24, 2008

TAMPA - A Hillsborough County elementary school teacher was arrested early Tuesday morning after police found her in a marijuana grow house, police said.

Wildalynn Harris, 23, who teaches fourth grade at Turner Elementary in New Tampa, was in an apartment at Vista Grande at Tampa Palms, 7106 Heart of Palms Drive, when investigators executed a search warrant just before 1 a.m., police said.

Reached by phone, Harris did not want to give a reporter her side of the story. "I think that once I talk to the judge, I think my side will be laid on the line," she said.

The warrant was issued after investigators received a tip about marijuana being sold from the apartment and made an undercover purchase, police said.

Also arrested was Shawn Crane, 24, who lives at the apartment, according to jail records.

In the apartment, police found 16 marijuana plants and about 200 grams - or 7 ounces -of marijuana packaged for sale, authorities said.

Investigators also seized $6,225 cash, scales and packaging material.

When investigators entered the apartment, Harris was on the living room sofa with a baggie of marijuana on the floor about 3 feet from her feet, according to a criminal report affidavit. On the end table next to the sofa was an ashtray with six marijuana cigarettes and an electric bong, the affidavit states.

When questioned by police, she denied using marijuana.

Harris and Crane were charged with cultivation of marijuana, possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and possession of drug paraphernalia.

School district spokeswoman Linda Cobbe said Harris has worked for the district for a year and is considered temporary, meaning she is not on a tenure track. She taught at Hunter's Green Elementary School in 2007-08.

Harris has "received a letter telling her not to report to work, and she will receive another one this afternoon letting her know she will likely be suspended without pay at the next school board meeting," on Oct. 7, Cobbe said.

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