TEACHER FOUND NOT GUILTY OF MARIJUANA CHARGE GOES BACK TO WORK THIS WEEK

A Jonesville High School teacher went back to work Monday after a jury
found him not guilty this past week of a simple possession of marijuana charge.

Will Hickson, 29, of Union was arrested Nov. 26 after a drug dog stopped an
investigator at Hickson's car during a routine sweep at the school.

In a .02-gram sample of material linked to the car, tests came back both
positive and negative for marijuana, said Hickson's attorney, Chad Jenkins
of the Newberry firm Pope & Hudgens.

Witnesses who testified in the three-and-half-hour jury trial indicated
many people -- not just Hickson -- used the teacher's 1994 Honda Accord.
Sometimes he was not in the car with them, Jenkins said.

Also, the vehicle was not clean. To illustrate in part how difficult such a
small amount of a leafy substance could be to see, Jenkins sprinkled about
a teaspoon of parsley onto a carpet during his closing, he said.

The jury deliberated about 15 minutes before returning a not guilty verdict.

Hickson was eager to return to work Monday, Jenkins said. He has taught
seventh- and eighth-grade math, assisted coaching junior varsity football
and sponsored the academic challenge team.

Hickson's reinstatement resulted not only from the not guilty verdict but
also an investigation that included a drug test, which returned negative,
said Thomas White, superintendent of Union County schools.