Yesterday, it was announced at The New York Times that administrators at Branson School, a prestigious prep school in California, were attempting damage control after the headmaster and a 21-year-old woman who was not his wife had been arrested on felony drug charges at a local hotel. Thomas Woodrow Price, the 54-year-old headmaster, was arrested on Friday in Rancho Cordova after police found methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin in a hotel room where Price and the young woman, who was passed out on a bed, were found.
According to the news article, police found an amount of drugs large enough to charge Price and the 21-year-old woman, Brittney Hall, with possession of methamphetamine for sale. Branson School has one of the highest annual tuitions of any prestigious high schools in the nation, according to the article, at $40,000. Price’s annual salary was said to be approximately $500,000 per year. Price, who was known as “Woody” by friends and co-workers, posted bail on Saturday.
Price has been the school’s headmaster for eight years, appointed to the position in 2006.
Michigan drug crime lawyers know that anyone, regardless of their standing in the community, can find themselves in an unsavory situation such as the one described above. Drug crimes are particularly serious, as lawmakers continue in their efforts to crack down on the sale and distribution of addictive and abused substances.
In the state of Michigan, the criminal penalties an individual will face if convicted of possession of cocaine depends on the amount in his or her possession. In amounts greater than 50 grams but less than 450, a conviction could result in up to 20 years in prison. Possession of meth with intent to deliver or distribute will result in a maximum of 20 years in prison, fines of up to $25,000, or both.
Regardless of your standing in the community or reputation, it is imperative that you consult with a capable and aggressive Michigan drug crime attorney immediately, so that work can begin on mounting a solid defense and protecting your legal rights.