A Florida middle school teacher accused of selling drugs to her students was found guilty on September 18, 2019.
Maria Rivera, 37, was a teacher at Clewiston Middle School in Clewiston, FL where she sold drugs to students age 12 and 14.
Maria was found guilty of numerous charges including drug possession, selling within 1,000 feet of a school and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
The Hendry County Sheriff’s Office began investigating Maria in December 2017. As a teacher at the middle school Maria would sell marijuana to students then drive them off campus to smoke it. The investigation revealed that Maria took two female students off-campus and taught them how to prepare and take drugs, the investigation indicated the two students never used drugs before this.
A student turned sheriff’s office informant led to Maria’s arrest on Dec. 8, 2017. After the student paid Maria $20 for marijuana and Xanax, Maria drove with the student off school grounds when investigators intercepted her vehicle.
Maria was arrested after a search of her car revealed synthetic marijuana and two Xanax pills.
Maria also took money from a student while at school and promised to deliver illegal drugs the following day.
Maria’s sentencing hearing is set for Oct. 16, 2019 and she could get up to 35 years in prison.
