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5 Middle School Students Caught With Marijuana

PARKER, Colo. (CBS) - Five middle school students in Parker are being suspended from school after getting caught with marijuana.

Douglas County School Officials said the teens, all 7th and 8th graders at Sierra Middle School, may also face criminal charges. Two of the students could be expelled.

Heather Manning, a mother of one of those students, said she isn't happy with how the situation was handled. She said her son and the four others were taken into the principal's office and questioned about having marijuana on Monday. She feels she should have been present for the questioning.

"I'm frustrated that they proceeded in my place. I felt like they usurped my position as a parent," Manning said.

But the school said they followed standard procedure.

"Sierra Middle School used the policy that the board has put in place to conduct investigations involving marijuana," said Douglas County Schools spokeswoman Susan Meek.

The marijuana was found after the students were searched last week. Manning said her son is a new student at Sierra and got caught in a classic case of peer pressure.

The students have been suspended for 8 days, but Manning said her son will probably not return.

"He's horrified and ashamed and he said 'I don't want to be thought of that way ... as one of those kids,'" Manning said.

The school will hold an expulsion hearing to decide what to do with the two students who are accused of planning to distribute the marijuana.

The Parker Police Department is involved in an investigation and ultimately the district attorney will decide if criminal charges should be filed.Five middle school students were busted last week for getting caught with marijuana. They were suspended from Sierra Middle School in Parker on Tuesday.

Douglas County School Officials said the kids may also face criminal charges. Two of the students could be expelled.

A mother of one of those students isn't happy with how the situation was handled. On Monday, Heather Manning's son and 4 others were taken into the principal's office and questioned about having marijuana.

Manning said she's more upset with the school than she is with her son. She believes she should have been present at the questioning.

"I'm frustrated that they proceeded in my place. I felt like they usurped my position as a parent," Manning said.

But the school said they followed standard procedure.

"Sierra Middle School used the policy that the board has put in place to conduct investigations involving marijuana," Susan Meek with Douglas County Schools said.

Manning said her son is a new student at Sierra Middle School, and got caught in a classic case of peer pressure.

When the students were searched, marijuana was found. Manning's son now faces a marijuana possession charge.

The 7th and 8th graders are now suspected of possessing marijuana. 2 of the students are suspected of distributing it.

The students have been suspended for 8 days, but Manning said her son will probably not return.

"He's horrified and ashamed and he said, 'I don't want to be thought of that way … as one of those kids,'" Manning said.

The Parker Police Department is involved in an investigation

The school will hold an expulsion hearing to decide what to do with the 2 students who are accused of intent to distribute that marijuana.

Ultimately, the district attorney will decide if criminal charges should be filed.

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