Inverness, Fla.— An elementary school teacher in Citrus County was arrested after deputies say she was selling marijuana out of her home.
55-year-old Kimberly Hellenburg is a teacher at Pleasant Grove Elementary School and deputies say they were able to purchase marijuana from her.
Neighbors were disappointed to learn about her arrest.
“They’re supposed to be the ones guiding your children to doing the best that they can do and get an education,” said neighbor Charmaine Gissiner.
The Citrus County School District said she was employed with the district for the past 29 years and she worked as a physical education teacher.
During the investigation, deputies located more than two pounds of marijuana in the home, distribution equipment and at least a half pound of marijuana in her bedroom.
Hellenburg’s son, Brendan Brown, was also arrested in the same home in December of 2017 for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute after deputies learned he was receiving large amounts of marijuana in the mail from California.
We spoke with Hellenburg’s son at the house, but he declined to comment. We reached out to his attorney, but we are waiting to hear back.
We were unable to reach Hellenburg.
“It was important to us that after learning of her career as a teacher and the influences she has on our young children that she be arrested before students returned to school from winter break,” said TIU Sgt. Ed Blair.
Hellenburg was charged with two counts of Sale of a Controlled Substance and two counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance.
A school district spokesperson says the Superintendent will likely recommend suspending Hellenburg without pay during this investigation.
credit:abcactionnews.com