Former School Teacher Sentenced to Prison on Drug Charges
February 28th, 2011 by Joe Burgess
In Drew County Circuit Court last week, a former Monticello Elementary teacher accepted a guilty plea on the list of charges against her, as well as having her probation revoked on some of the earlier charges.
Amy Arrington was sentenced to serve 2 years in the Arkansas Dept. of Correction. Her charges included forgery, attempted prescription fraud, and drug paraphernalia.
Arrington’s most recent arrest occurred during a traffic stop on HWY 35 East on Feburary 12, , where a state trooper found a dental floss box containing methamphetamine in her vehicle. These charges were also included in last week’s plea agreement.
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Posted July 21, 2011
Former Teacher Pleads Guilty to Drug Charges
Amy Arrington, a former special education teacher at Monticello Elementary School, plead guilty to attempting to obtain a controlled substance by fraud, in Drew County Circuit Court, last week.
The charge is described in court documents as fraud – drug paraphernalia.
In exchange for her guilty plea, Arrington will recieve 3 years of probation.
Arrington was released by the school system last December, following her September arrest.
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Posted Dec. 17, 2009
MES Teacher Fired by School Board
The board held a closed hearing for Amy Arrington, MES staff member, to discuss teacher recommendation for termination.
After the session was opened again, board members moved to accept the findings placed before them, and then moved to terminate Arrington’s contract.
Three attorneys and two local witnesses were present for the closed door hearing, and no comments were publicly made about the reason for Arrington’s dismissal.
Arrington had been arrested by the Drug Task Force on September 4, following an investigation that led agents to obtain an arrest warrant for Arrington on the charges of attempting to obtain a controlled substance by fraud, reportedly in reference to a fraudulent prescription attempting to be passed at local pharmacy.
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People make mistakes,this is a great loss for MES!
We should all have to pay for our mistakes. This is not acceptable behavior when you are in a position of responsibility with children.
I hope she gets the help that she is in need of.
Personally I think she needs more than jail time. It wasnt a Mistake. She chose to do this and probably did more. I think by her losing her job she is made an example! I dont want someone like this teaching my kids or anyone elses kids her bad habits.
Amy is a very sweet person, people make mistakes, if it even happened….Don’t judge others, that’s the Lord’s job!!!!!!!!
she just happened to get caught, if truth be told i wonder how many actually do participate in these activities. oh, but many of the hypocrites point the finger at the “druggies” while steadily popping the “medicine” the doctor gives them. That’s different, that’s their medicine they need it…
I agree that people make mistakes, however I do not believe she should be allowed to remain in a position over our children after these type of charges. What type of example is this setting for our students? There are many other teachers that should also be evaluated for conduct and misbehavior.
Shellie, your right, the Lord will judge us all someday, but the man/woman in that black robe will judge her as well.
Amy has been charged. She has not been found guilty except by some of the public who do not know all of the facts. Being accused does not mean “guilty”.
iv known amy a long time i liked her and i still like her. but i dont think someone with those charges should be able to hold the job she held, i think the school board did the only thing they could under the circumstances. and to be perfectly honest i would not be comfortable as a parent to have my child in her class room. its a sad situation and it proves you need to always be prepared to find out you may not know someone as well as you think. i do wish her the best, hope she turns this around gets the help she needs, and turns this into a positive life changing experience, that will be a true insparation of sucess for others.
I dont know her case..and I’m not judging her. I am speaking for my children and others that deserve better. If shes not guilty then they shouldnt fire her…I guess they made their decision based upon facts and not from her lawyers pull. The fact is my girls are my life and I will protect them from any danger or harm that I possibly can. Its just something that everyone should learn from.
i cant belive that
well yea i can
let’s at least get the facts straight if you are going to print something on the internet. amy , “I” , did NOT plead guilty to anything, i actually pled hold contenderee/ without finding of guilt to the charges. the only thing you did get right, JOE,. is that i did get 3 years of probation but i can be off in 1 year with perfect behavior. i think you must just be a ignorant person that has to color in the truth to make your story sound better.
amy
“When offering anhold contenderee/ without finding of guilt to the charges, a defendant asserts his innocence but admits that sufficient evidence exists to convict him of the offense. The book Plea Bargaining’s Triumph: A History of Plea Bargaining in America published by Stanford University Press defines the plea as one in “which the defendant adheres to her claim of innocence even while allowing that the government has enough evidence to prove her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt”. According to the book Gender, Crime, and Punishment published by Yale University Press, “Under the Alford doctrine, a defendant does not admit guilt but admits that the state has sufficient evidence to find him or her guilty, should the case go to trial.”[4] Webster’s New World Law Dictionary defines Alford plea as: “A guilty plea entered as part of a plea bargain by a criminal defendant who denies committing the crime or who does not actually admit his guilt but knows there is enough evidence for a conviction. In federal courts, such plea may be accepted as long as there is evidence that the defendant is actually guilty.”
When you decide to to put this information on this site I wish you would think of her kids and how embarrassing it is for them. They cannot control what their mother does. Everytime you print an article on this sight, I see her kids get very upset and people in the community act like they are supportive but they are not. Everybody screws up, but I notice certain people with money don’t get put on this sight.
Totally agree with Leigh
I am sorry that her children get upset by these articles, but maybe they should be more upset with their mother, she is after all the one who put them in this situation. As a parent, and especially as a parent in a small town like Monticello, our children have to suffer the consequences of our actions just as much as we do. You must consider that very carefully when doing things… if you don’t want your children to be embarrassed, then maybe you shouldn’t be doing it in the first place.
As for her plea, based on the definitions posted, looks like she admitted she was guilty, just without saying so. If the government has enough evidence to convict you without a reasonable doubt, then obviously you did it.
For the person who posted something about people being hypocrits and being the same as an addict when taking medication from the doctor… there is a difference…. A doctor gives you medication for a medical condition, and if you follow his/her instructions, then NO it is not the same. When you LIE and ABUSE your doctor to obtain medications just so that you can take them however and whenever you want, then that is a BIG problem.
I applaud the school board for removing her from our children’s classrooms. There is enough negative influences on our children in the world today as it is, we don’t need someone with a drug problem in a classroom.
I agree with just another nobody. If you don;t want your kids to know what a horrible person you are maybe you should not be that person.
Regardless if you are found guilty, pled guilty, pled no contest and or pled hold contenderee that is all the same in the end. If you get punishment you are GUILTY. Just an easy way to get the case closed without saying guilty and w/o going before a jury! So with 3 years probation even with good behavior you may get put on SIS after 12 months BUT for the remainder of your 36 months you are still on paper just not supervised.
Joe with Monticello Live is doing nothing but reporting news to the citizens of Drew County since the public has the right to hear and know about things going on in our town. Amy is the one that decided to make the decision to do this not the public nor Joe. Also, nobody in their right mind would judge her children by her actions BUT instead of asking the public to not be informed of things going on in Monticello to protect her children, why don’t you ask her was she worried about her children when she decided to break the law?
Everyone makes mistakes but learn from them. I wish Amy the best and hope this opens a new road that she will travel.
This is to “Amy”
What do you think, “pled hold contenderee/ without finding of guilt to the charges” means? They did not have to find you guilty..u accepted your punishment for the crime. Please be on good behavior so you will be off in 1yr!!! And don’t get mad @ what Joe published. He has the right to report the news which is public records. Just like you had the right to say you were not guilty!! The evidence was too much for you, huh!!! It’s no one’s fault but your if your children has to read this!!!
I agree with just another nobody. Amy if you were so concerned about your children, why would you make the type of decisions that you made to be placed on Monticellolive. You knew better for abusing drugs. You must accept your punishment like everyone else. You should have thought about your children first instead of being selfish. As a citizen we should be informed about the news that is occurring in Monticello because you were the one that was teaching our children. Ummm great example for your children and the children that you were teaching. Now thing about what you are teaching our children about drugs.
Was this for the 1st charge? If I remember, this lady got caugt doing the same thing again, before she even went to court!!..And 3yrs probation! I’ve seen other ppl get more punishment for lesser offenses…
Funny how all the bashers on here are hiding behind screen names!!! Put your names on here cowards and let me dig up some dirt on you to tell your children! I can promise you that you do have something in that closet of yours that you are hiding!! No one on this Earth lives a perfect life and the children in this community are struggling everyday with the bullies that they have to face! Just remember…you may not have a grave mistake in your past that you care to share…but your kids may make one. What shall you say then? What will you tell your wonderful innocent grandchildren when they are crying from a mistake that you or your kid made and they have to pay the price for? I honestly don’t care if Amy did it or not…her kids shouldn’t have to pay the price! PEROID! And if you can’t find some sympathy for those children, you are pathetic!! I heard a child say something to Amy’s daughter at a ballgame last Fall about her mother being on monticellolive for drugs. The daughter of a prominet family in Monticello…she had heard it from her parents. Sad and pathetic. Let’s just say I took my stocks and bonds elsewhere…I will never do business with them again. EVER!
“Monticello Resident”…you are the only one on here that actually made sense!! It’s people like you that we need more of around here!! Thanks!!!
Amy, Hold your head up. YOU ARE NOT THE ONLY PERSON IN MONTICELLO, ARKANSAS WHO HAS MADE A MISTAKE. Learn from it and move on.
guilty or temp guilty,YOU STILL got arrested for DRUGS
HUSH
Guilty or temp guilty?? What is “temp guilty”, “OMG”?
Don’t let it bother you Amy! You were a very good teacher and you will get through this!
Wonders how many of you that are condeming Amy, ever reached out a hand to help her? How many of you went to school with her..grew up in the same town…sit in a classroom with her…shared a laugh with her? And now you want to kick her when she is down? Is that what Monticello people are about? Really??? For all you upstanding holier than thou citizens of Monticello…yall need to rethink how you are treating her! And yes one day you will all stand in judgement….and you will be judged as to how you helped or didnt help those less fortunate who have taken the wrong paths! My heart & prayers go out to Amy & most of all her children! God Bless & Be with them!
I don’t see what the big deal is. She wanted to be cranked up and ready to teach. Maybe she needed the pills and nobody would give them to her. Free Amy!!!! Free Amy!!!! Maybe if we had more crankhead teachers, we wouldn’t have as many stupid kids running around.
You would think being a school teacher she would have better sense. Come on, Amy!!! You get busted for drugs, get probation(which you was lucky) turn around and get busted for the same crime? It’s good you received 2 years in prison. Maybe now you will learn your lesson.
This is so sad for eveyone involved. Ive been friends with Amy since we were little girls. I know she has a huge heart, she is just sick right now and needs help. My prayer is that everyone that is judging her will turn their attention towards praying for her and her children. I really wish that no one would be allowed to post comments to her article like some of the other offenders that have been on here. Her children have suffered enough losing their mom please think about what you post.
I was hoping there wouldn’t be any additional stories being made on this. Amy’s children have had enough sorrow. I don’t fault anyone for writing the story, but This site is not always “NEWS” alot of time it is just fuel for gossip. I wish Amy the best and hope she gets the help she needs. There are facts and circumstances that some are not aware of. Amy is a good person that fell into a bad situation, with a bad influence put on her by some bad people. Everyone makes mistakes, and/or has done things they would rather not be talked about in public or used against themselves or their children. No one in this town or anywhere else has lived a perfect life. Everyone has a little something in their closets. Grow up and get a life.
Joe bends over backwards to print th truth. Are you going to complain to every news outlet that prints or writes something about your arrest? Talk about judging. And no, he is not ignorant.
i know amy and her family there r great people she got mixed up with the wrong crowd and now shes paying for it people r so rude now days yall talking about bulling in the kids where do u think they get it from AMY i pray for u and ur family thats u get better and put this past u and prove to these folks that u are only human love u lots amy
As a parent, grandparent, and local citizen of drew county,the problem of drugs lies with in the entire community. Our children need “Opportunities” and leaders. Our whole town is suffering from addition one family at a time.If she is the topic, then where’s the “dealer’s” article of where they were arrested with 10 times the punishment for selling drugs within our community.Maybe, our town will wake up before another generation suffers…”WAKE UP MONTICELLO! WAKE UP!!!!!!!!!!!
iv known amy since we were kids, and she does have a big heart, she also has a drug problem, that aparently she neglected to get help for, and she had all kinds of time and oportunity. I feel very sorry for her kids no child deserves to have a parent go to prison, but if this parent wouldnt have caused it they would not be suffering. She droped the ball for herself and her kids and she done it all on her own. I have a brother that some day will prolly be where she is now…and ill still love and pitty his children and MY parents for the disgrace and shame he has brought to them…as for him, her and those of theier kind i have no pity for those who wont help themselves.
Apparently the people on here that are quick to judge are perfect people. That must be the case because I can’t imagine putting someone down so harshly during their time of need. I have known Amy for over ten years. She was such a sweet, caring and beautiful girl. Drug addiction is a sickness. It consumes you. I pray that she finds strength and is able to overcome her sickness so that she can be the mom that her precious kids need so desperately. Everyone makes mistakes. We are not on this earth to judge others. Anyone that is a christian should know that.
Maybe she will get her act together.
**Gob bless you Amy**
Wow some of these comments you people post are just ridiculous! I mean, cmon! This girl made her own choices and got herself in trouble all on her own. If she was so ashamed and so sorry for her actions, she would have got her life together for her kids. Instead she CHOSE to continue with the drugs and bad choices so prison is exactly where she belongs, and she has nobody to blame but herself!
And to all you hypocrites who bash Joe for posting the news of Monticello, GET A GRIP! If you don’t like what is posted here, don’t come here and read it!
It’s funny to read these comments because you can tell who Amy’s friends are. Every post that you read that has misspelled words, it’s Amy’s friends. For all you kids out there, this is why you don’t go chasing the dragon. Keep your mind on the books not on the crank. Come on Monticello. We are suppose to be classier than this.
She needs to get herself straightened out and it sounds like some prison time is just what she needs! If it’s not prescription drugs she’s abusing, it’s hiding drugs in a container of floss! Ridiculous! If she doesn’t want her kids to be embarrassed, she should take a good look at herself! She did it to her kids, we didn’t!!
She may have a wonderful heart, but the fact is she committed a crime-a very serious crime! The news should not give her any special favors because she is such a “big hearted” individual! Did she learn her lesson the first time when she had the opportunity to be with her children?
Judging Others
1 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
Matthew 7:1-5 (New International Version, ©2010)
I hope that going to prison wakes Amy up and she will be ready to get help and turn her life around for herself and her kids. It is easy to throw stones at people when they are down but the sad thing is this could happen to anybody you know or even yourself drugs are a big problem. You may say this would never happen to me but I bet at one time Amy said that too. I pray for Amy and her children. I hope eventually everything will turn around for her.
He who has not sinned, cast the first stone. I too, have made mistakes that have not been forgotten. But we can forgive each other. We need to all pray for our community and better yet for our country. We have all fell upon hardships and been burdened with stressful situations that influenced us to make bad choices. It doesnt matter your age, color or income. Monticello is always so quick to judge. We need to learn to stick together and start by making a difference within ourselves. There is no future in the past. Lets move forward as a community and make a difference before this world gets in a bigger mess. Take the time to let someone you know how much they mean to you or pay them a compliment. It will amaze you at how much better you will feel and it will definately make a difference for the person on the receiving end. Always think before you speak how you would feel if you or a loved one were in a similar situation. Life is too short for so much conflict.
finally!!
everyone needs asecond chance we need to give her chance
I dont know this person, but i hope she gets the help she needs. I do have friends with drug problems who have children and its sad for sure. One thing i have learned is you can offer the help till you are blue in the face, but if they are not ready to deal with their problem, then it will not do any good. i pray for this lady and her friends and family.
to everyone saying that Monticellolive is not news… im sure if you were not interested in the news posted on this site, you would stop visiting it right? I dont ever see anyone saying he should not report on the accidents … its nice to be able to keep up with what is happening and it is no different than watching the news, or reading the paper… in fact, many of the events posted here, are also in the paper… have you complained to the editor, or just to joe, because people can post their opinions? its not the news, but the comments that offend you.
Granted, it is not right to judge by Biblical standards. However, it is not judging when the facts are stated that she committed a crime! As far as second chances, I believe we are beyond second chances and well on our way to third or more! If she was not your friend but just another drug dealer on the street, would you feel the same or want him punished for his actions? In a classroom as a teacher, I’m sure that she held her students accountable for their behavior and actions. What’s the difference? I am not judging her as a person, but merely stating cold hard facts-she was caught with drugs on two separate occaisions-the second time after receiving a lighter than normal sentence the first time! If she is your friend-wonderful! She needs good friends at the moment. However, don’t make lame excuses for her!!!
Drugs are readily available in jails/prisons. I know this to be the truth because I know people who have had to spend time in jail/prison who have seen it with their own eyes. Would it not be better to have Amy, or ANY person rehabilitated rather than placed where their addiction is only worsened because of the availability of drugs in the prison systems?
To Grandmother: 13 Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. 14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do;
13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, 14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 15 For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. 16 Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves.
Great job “DUB”!!! I appreciate you posting this comment!!!!
I agree with ‘Peace’ about thinking how you would feel if it were you or a loved one in a similar situation. Think before you speak.
Joe has the right to publish; the public has a right to read. But some of the comments have reached the point of bashing. I have had a similar situation in my family where the addiction led to death. Children were also involved. Such things are very sad and no family is immune! Let’s just hush about Amy now and pray for her and everyone involved.
I hate this has happened.. praying for her and her family
AMY NEEDS PRAYERS NOT HATE!!!!!
I went to school with Amy and she was always a good friend and a good person. I feel so bad for her and her kids. Amy keep your head up be strong in the LORD Jesus He will carry you when you feel weak and alone. Love Always your classmate and friend Latonya.
The Bible says, Judge ye not lest ye be judged! I don’t live even near Monticello but I do know this woman is not the only one there or anywhere with a drug problem. What one has to understand is that drug abuse is a disease. Yes, it’s certainly done by choice but it is a disease. Yes, she should have known better from the first arrest, however, she is an addict. No matter how you all try to shame her because of what she did, I’m sure no one is more ashamed than she is. This lady has to find her own way and nothing anyone says is going to make a difference until she decides it’s time. Leave this woman alone and wish her the best. We all need to clean up our own back yards before we go scratching in someone else’s!
I grew up with Amy and also attended school with her. She was a great person then, and remains so today. It is ironic that the schools will not allow her to teach in the future. I can imagine that she would be a powerful voice for how one’s actions have consequences. I pray that she gets the help she needs while in detention. In the meantime, her family and friends, such as myself, will be waiting for her return home- with open arms, a smile, and an “Oh, well. Stuff happens.” Dr. J