Pubdate: Tue, 6 May 2008 Source: Kalamazoo Gazette (MI) Copyright: 2008 Kalamazoo Gazette Contact: http://www.mlive.com/kzgazette/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/588 Author: Lynn Turner Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Marijuana) POT-GROWING TEACHERS WON'T LOSE THEIR HOUSE KALAMAZOO -- Two teachers who lost their jobs for growing marijuana won't lose their home as part of a drug forfeiture. Brett and Keri Johnson paid $20,000 to the Southwest Enforcement Team before their April 30 deadline, Kalamazoo County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Steve McLaughlin said. An agreement between the multijurisdictional drug-enforcement unit and the Johnsons stated that if the money was paid, SWET would not seek to foreclose on the Courtlandt Avenue property in Kalamazoo and various liens would not be attached to the property, according to court documents filed in March. The Johnsons, who taught at Gull Lake High School, grew marijuana in the house for personal use, according to the police report. A grow light, 16 marijuana plants and 18 bags of pot varying from 5 to 9 ounces were removed from the home. An anonymous tip led SWET officers to the home on Jan. 3. The two teachers resigned in August when they pleaded guilty to manufacturing marijuana, a felony with a maximum sentence of four years in prison. They were sentenced in October to six months of probation. A spokesman for the Michigan Department of Education said their teaching certificates have been suspended -- Keri Johnson until Feb. 10, 2010, and Brett Johnson until Feb. 25, 2010. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake