Saugus teacher had fentanyl in school before arrest, police say
LYNN - A Saugus teacher was arraigned Friday on charges she had fentanyl with her at school when she was arrested on Thursday.
Roxanne Plakson, 52, was arraigned on charges of possession of a Class A substance at Lynn District Court. The Saugus Middle High School website identifies her as a science teacher and parents and students told WBZ TV she teaches seventh grade there.
Prosecutors said police were called to the school Thursday for a report of a suspicious substance found in both a staff bathroom and a classroom. According to court documents, police found a white powdery substance in the bathroom and in a pill bottle seen in Plakson's bag. Video surveillance also allegedly showed Plakson walking out of the bathroom.
The substance was identified Friday as fentanyl. Court documents said Plakson told police she takes fentanyl for pain and took some that morning but declined to say where she got it from. Six grams of fentanyl was allegedly recovered from the school.
In court Friday, Plakson's attorney told the judge she's already undergoing treatment for substance abuse in Lynn and the judge asked her to continue the treatment. Because she's expected to lose her job, her lawyer said Plakson will most likely need court-appointed counsel.
The school district released a statement, saying in part, "Both the Saugus administration and Saugus Police Department addressed the situation, following the appropriate procedures and laws, to make sure that at no time was the safety of students or staff in jeopardy."
"Hopefully she gets herself some help and hopefully no kids got their hands on it," said one parent picking up his kids from school.
Plakson is due back in court on March 5.
