NO DRUG CHARGES FOR ELEMENTARY STUDENTS

Family Court prosecutors will not pursue charges against two
10-year-old boys caught at school in early February with more than
three grams of marijuana. The boys tried to sell the drugs for dessert
and bubble gum. Officials said Monday the youngest age that children
can be charged with a crime is 10, and typically that is done when the
authorities have a strong belief that the children knew what they were
doing was wrong. Knowing that the children were trying to sell the
drugs for cakes and gum begs that question.

"I am fine with (the outcome)," said Burnettown Police Chief David
Paul Smith. "You really need to try and look at a what a 10-year-old
really understands."

Burnettown police said they don't know where the two Jefferson
Elementary School fourth-graders found the drugs or what prompted them
to bring the drugs to school.

Smith said the investigation is now in the hands of narcotics officers
at the Aiken County Sheriff's Office.

"Both students live outside my jurisdiction," he said.

Smith went on to say that the parents of the two boys were not under
investigation, but he said the police would not leave them out the
equation.

"If Aiken County were to find there are drugs in the homes, then
charges could be filed," he said.

But, he said while he was investigating the matter, leads took him
elsewhere.

The day the drugs were found, the school's principal immediately took
the drugs and called the police.

Police said they do not believe the boys or any of the children at the
elementary school smoked the drug or were in any serious danger.

The Area 3 Advisory Council will be the first to consider the
disciplinary matter, looking at the actions and the behavior of the
students.

Area 3 Assistant Superintendent Dr. Tim Yarborough said the advisory
council has discretion and looks at each case individually, but the
immediate reaction is to recommend an automatic expulsion
recommendation.

He said that there are a range of decisions that can be
made.