Charges have been dropped against a Bethlehem Central School District staff member who was arrested for drug possession in January, after her husband took responsibility for the crime,according to court documents.
School psychologist Maria Mangini was arrested along with her husband, Brian Mangini, on Wednesday, Jan. 4, after it was learned they were in possession of a large quantity of marijuana in their home, according to Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple.
The investigation began after a BC student was found with a small amount of drugs on school property. The school notified police, who questioned the girl about where she obtained the drugs.
According to Town of New Scotland court documents, the girl was hired to babysit for the Clarksville couple nearly two years ago. According to her statement, during one occasion she was watching the couple’s two children and needed a blender. When she couldn’t find the appliance in the kitchen, one of the children suggested the babysitter check the attic.
When checking the attic, she did not find the blender but said she smelled the strong stench of marijuana, according to court documents. She continued searching for the cause of the smell and found a large quantity of the drug inside a dresser in the attic. She told police she then took some for herself.
`In the past two years while babysitting I have seen large amounts of marijuana in the same location,` she told police in her statement.
After the girl was found in possession of the drug at school and arraigned on charges, the Sheriff’s Office then worked with the school district to obtain a warrant to search the home. The student’s name was not released because of her age.
According to court documents, 3 ounces of marijuana was found in the attic along with a scale, seven pipes, two `water bongs,` and two smaller containers filled with marijuana.
Mangini and her husband, both 41, were originally charged with criminal possession of marijuana in the fourth degree and endangering the welfare of a child, both misdemeanors.
According to the documents, all charges against Maria Mangini were dropped because her husband took full responsibility for the marijuana.
`The defendant affirms she had no knowledge of the marijuana,` read the documents.
Brian Mangini, who is an employee of Bethlehem’s Blue Sky Music store, was ordered to pay a $400 fine and complete 100 hours of community service by July 1.
The school district placed Maria Mangini on paid administrative leave after the arrest. According to the school district, she remains on leave.
