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Tonchi · 04-20-2005, 04:06 PM

Fresno teacher apologizes for smoking pot with students
The Associated Press
(Updated Saturday, April 16, 2005, 12:40 PM)

FRESNO, Calif. (AP) - A Fresno High School substitute teacher charged with smoking marijuana with students in his class wrote a letter to the local newspaper saying that five years of pot smoking had made him "mentally powerless."

Chris Bochin, 22, said he set the worst example for students.

"It was the worst thing I've ever done, but in a way, the resultant shame and embarrassment I felt might just save my life in the long run," Bochin wrote to The Fresno Bee.

Bochin, who pleaded not guilty to felony charges of furnishing marijuana to minors and misdemeanor charges of contributing to the delinquency of minors, also wrote an apology letter to his class that Principal Bob Reyes planned to read to students.

"I think it's important for the kids to know there is a lesson here," Reyes said. "You can make a mistake and you can learn from the mistake." Bochin was arrested March 9 after smoking marijuana with five ninth-graders in an Earth science class. Two students had retrieved marijuana and a pipe from Bochin's car.

Other students smelled the drug and alerted their peers by sending cell phone text messages. The five students were suspended for five days, a school spokeswoman said.

Bochin apologized to parents and students of the school in his letter to the newspaper, saying he had failed to lead by example and instead had shared his problems with marijuana.

"I was entrusted with young minds, given the opportunity to teach and to lead by example," he wrote. "But when things got tough, I violated that trust, teaching them a horrible lesson and proving myself the worst possible example."

A preliminary hearing is set for May 5 in Fresno County Superior Court. Defense lawyer Jim Elia said Bochin is participating in a drug rehabilitation program.

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Information from: The Fresno Bee, http://www.fresnobee.com

04-20-2005, 04:06 PM	#9
Tonchi Victim of gravity Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Hiding in plain sight Posts: 1,412	Fresno teacher apologizes for smoking pot with students The Associated Press (Updated Saturday, April 16, 2005, 12:40 PM) FRESNO, Calif. (AP) - A Fresno High School substitute teacher charged with smoking marijuana with students in his class wrote a letter to the local newspaper saying that five years of pot smoking had made him "mentally powerless." Chris Bochin, 22, said he set the worst example for students. "It was the worst thing I've ever done, but in a way, the resultant shame and embarrassment I felt might just save my life in the long run," Bochin wrote to The Fresno Bee. Bochin, who pleaded not guilty to felony charges of furnishing marijuana to minors and misdemeanor charges of contributing to the delinquency of minors, also wrote an apology letter to his class that Principal Bob Reyes planned to read to students. "I think it's important for the kids to know there is a lesson here," Reyes said. "You can make a mistake and you can learn from the mistake." Bochin was arrested March 9 after smoking marijuana with five ninth-graders in an Earth science class. Two students had retrieved marijuana and a pipe from Bochin's car. Other students smelled the drug and alerted their peers by sending cell phone text messages. The five students were suspended for five days, a school spokeswoman said. Bochin apologized to parents and students of the school in his letter to the newspaper, saying he had failed to lead by example and instead had shared his problems with marijuana. "I was entrusted with young minds, given the opportunity to teach and to lead by example," he wrote. "But when things got tough, I violated that trust, teaching them a horrible lesson and proving myself the worst possible example." A preliminary hearing is set for May 5 in Fresno County Superior Court. Defense lawyer Jim Elia said Bochin is participating in a drug rehabilitation program. --- Information from: The Fresno Bee, http://www.fresnobee.com __________________ Everything you've ever heard about Fresno is true.