Former Water Valley Teachers Sentenced To Drug Court

By David Howell

Editor

BATESVILLE – Two former Water Valley teachers were sentenced in Circuit Court in Batesville last week after pleading guilty to directing or causing a person under the age of 17 to commit a felony. In the plea agreement, Jill Todd and Alana Harris were each sentenced to drug court and will be under court supervision for up to five years. They were also ordered by Circuit Judge Jimmy McClure to pay $1,785 in fines, restitution and court fees, plus $100 a month for drug court fees.

The pair were indicted by a grand jury last October for directing or causing a student at Water Valley High School to sell Schedule II and Schedule III prescription drugs multiple times. They were arrested on October 23, 2017, following the grand jury indictments that stemmed from a three-week investigation by the Yalobusha County Sheriff’s Department. 

The Desoto County Sheriff’s Department assisted in the investigation, providing a forensic analyzer to help with gathering phone data that included almost 300 pages of text message conversations from the defendants.  Assistant District Attorney Steve Jubera also worked alongside the sheriff’s department during the probe. 

The sentencing orders also require the defendants to regularly report to the judge on a weekly basis, or as ordered, along with a lengthy list of requirements that include refraining from teaching or sponsoring school events during the term of drug court.  If they successfully complete the program, the charges will be expunged, according to the plea agreement.