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.