Drug money given to school system

Lance Martin Herald Senior Staff Writer

JACKSON - It wasn't enough drug money for the North Carolina Department of Revenue to worry about, but it wasn't about to go back to the person it was taken from.

Instead, a district court judge in Northampton County ordered the $442 seized from a man arrested for drug offenses go to Northampton County Schools, Northampton County Sheriff's Office Capt. George Reed said Thursday.

The money, which was given to the school system Wednesday by Northampton County Sheriff Wardie Vincent, came courtesy of Arthur Bennett.

Bennett was charged in February with possession of cocaine, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Because only trace amounts of cocaine were found, the cocaine charge was dropped.

Bennett pled guilty to the paraphernalia and the marijuana charges, Reed said Thursday. He received probation and a court fine.