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March 7, 2013

Teacher jailed on gun, drug complaints

School police allegedly found items in his car

By Wendy Burton Phoenix Staff Writer

— Prosecutors expect to receive a report today on a Muskogee teacher who was arrested Wednesday for allegedly possessing guns and drugs on campus.

Muskogee County District Attorney Larry Moore said Wednesday evening that he hadn’t heard about the arrest of Paul Washington, 49, of Muskogee, but that he typically receives those reports the following morning.

Washington was held on complaints of possession of marijuana on school property and possession of a firearm on school property, according to booking records at the Muskogee County/

City Detention Facility.

Muskogee Public Schools said in a media release that MPS officials received a tip that an employee had a gun in his car on campus Wednesday.

Campus police found two guns and drugs in the car, the release states.

The booking records show that campus police arrested Washington and took him to the jail about 1:45 p.m.

MPS did not give Washington’s name, citing a confidential personnel matter, nor did the district identify the school.

“The district is currently taking the appropriate steps to address this matter,” the release states. “No individuals were harmed by the firearms or drugs.”

School board meeting minutes show that Washington has worked for the district since at least 2008. The meeting minutes also indicate that he taught social studies and/or history at Alice Robertson Junior High.

A first offense of possession of marijuana on school property is a misdemeanor. A conviction can result in a fine of up to $1,000 and/or imprisonment of up to one year.

However, possession of a firearm on school property is a felony, punishable by a fine of up to $5,000 and/or up to two years in prison.

Reach Wendy Burton at (918) 684-2926 or wburton@muskogeephoenix.com.

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