5TH-GRADER BUSTED FOR SELLING DRUGS

MIDDLETOWN, N.Y. (AP) An 11-year-old boy was charged with selling marijuana
and fake crack to his fifth-grade classmates.

Students told a teacher at Maple Hill Elementary School on Wednesday that
the boy had been distributing small amounts of marijuana and clumps of bar
soap passed off as crack.

"Best case scenario is it's limited to five or six kids," Middletown
Superintendent Robert Sigler said. "Worst case scenario, it's as many as 20
or so."

The boy was released to his mother pending an appearance Feb. 12 in Orange
County Family Court. He was charged with criminal sale of marijuana and the
sale of an imitation controlled substance.

State Police Investigator Michael DeWitt said police are still trying to
determine how the boy obtained the marijuana. He said the boy had mixed the
small amount of marijuana with oregano to try to make more money.

Middletown is 55 miles northwest of New York City.