A Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High School teacher who was charged with growing marijuana with intent to distribute it has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of possession of marijuana. Other counts were dismissed.
Officers of the Lookout Mountain Judicial Drug Task Force in early July searched the home of Lori Beth Moore after getting a tip that she was growing marijuana. The home is on Highway 136 East, Rising Fawn, Ga.
Officers said they found a grow station in her basement as well as marijuana in her bedroom that had been dried, cut, and ready for use.
She was charged with manufacturing a drug with intent to distribute, possession of a Schedule 1 drug (marijuana), possession of drug-related objects, and possession of a firearm in commission of a crime.
Ms. Moore was afterward placed on leave.
Attorney McCracken Poston said, ““This was an unusual case, as it seemed to be a case of not cleaning her house properly after a years-old incident where a former student was given access to her basement to store his motorcycle.
“The former student was the first name mentioned by law enforcement authorities when they came to Ms. Moore’s house.”
The attorney said Ms. Moore has suffered debilitating back problems that had for years limited her own access to the basement, where he said officers "found very old evidence of lamps and potting soil with old marijuana stalks.“
Attorney Poston said, "She has been a celebrated teacher for many years, and this resolution means she does not have a conviction.”