JUNIOR HIGH PRINCIPAL CHARGED WITH MARIJUANA POSSESSION, CARRYING A GUN

CLEVELAND -- A junior high school principal has been suspended with pay
after being charged with possession of marijuana and unlawfully carrying a
pistol.

Richard Kreiner, 47, of Cleveland, was released on $1,500 bail Friday after
being jailed overnight by the Woodbranch Village Police Department on the
drug and weapon charges.

He was in his first year as principal of Cleveland Junior High School after
having been a successful teacher in the Bryan school district.

"He was suspended, pending review of the police reports. If the charges are
true, they violate our code of ethics. We have a zero-tolerance policy here
on such things," said Nancy Fuller, interim superintendent for the
Cleveland Independent School District.

She said Kreiner did not have a criminal history.

Woodbranch Police Chief Stoney England said one of his officers pulled over
Kreiner's truck on U.S. 59 Thursday because of an "obstructed license
plate." He said Kreiner aroused suspicion when he leaned over and appeared
to be hiding something under the front seat.

The officer recovered a .357-caliber Magnum pistol, which Kreiner had no
permit for, as well as 28 grams of marijuana from under the seat, England
said.

Kreiner, who has an unpublished telephone number, could not be reached for
comment Saturday by The Associated Press.