News

Pentucket teacher on leave after arrest

By Julie Manganis and Will Courtney
Staff writers
Published: December 11, 2008

SALEM — A Pentucket Regional High School teacher is on administrative leave without pay after being charged with drug possession and other violations after a car accident in Beverly last week, according to his attorney.

John F. O'Leary, 50, of Beverly, was arraigned Tuesday in Salem District Court on charges of drug possession, driving with a suspended license, negligent driving and a marked lanes violation. He pleaded not guilty and was released on $200 cash bail.

O'Leary, a science teacher at Pentucket, was arrested after being involved in a head-on collision in Beverly. Police say O'Leary was carrying a small, plastic bag containing what they believed to be crystal methamphetamine in his pocket.

Attorney Arthur Kelly of Newton said that despite any personal problems his client may have faced in the past, he remains dedicated to his profession.

"At no time in his decades of being a school teacher has he ever compromised his dedication to the students or compromised in any way his work ethic," Kelly said.

The attorney added he is hoping for a quick resolution to the case. O'Leary is due back in court Feb. 2 for a pretrial hearing.

"Our goal is to not resolve this too far down the road," Kelly said. "An early resolution, that's what he's hopeful for. He's trying to address any and all issues in regard to his tenure as a teacher and the criminal matter before him in an expeditious, efficient and proper way."

According to Beverly police, shortly before 5 p.m. last Friday, O'Leary crossed the center line on Brimbal Avenue and was involved in a head-on crash into a vehicle driven by Scott Griffin, who has been a reserve officer in Beverly for about a year. Griffin was taken to Beverly Hospital with minor injuries.

Upon further investigation, police found the small bag in O'Leary's pocket. According to the police report, police also found two glass pipes, one in the back seat and the other in the trunk. O'Leary also had an electronic scale on the floor on the passenger side, according to the police report.

During the stop, O'Leary declined medical attention for a mouth injury. He told the police he did not know why he crossed the double yellow line.

O'Leary's court file shows he has two prior convictions for DUI more than a decade ago, one in Beverly in 1985 and another in Newbury in 1993.

District leaders directed calls about the incident to Superintendent Paul Livingston, who did not return several messages seeking comment in recent days.

When the school has dealt with alcohol issues regarding students in the past year, including an incident at the Boston Garden before the girls basketball team's state playoff game last March and multiple student arrests at a graduation party in June, Livingston has stressed a proactive approach to such issues.

"One of the things we never want to do is sweep issues under the rug," Livingston said after the incident in March. "We acknowledge there are realities and that we have to deal with them."