10-05-04

WILSONVILLE -- A teenager is suspended from school and facing felony charges for trying to bribe his teacher so he could make a drug run, according to police.

Detectives say, during class, the student handed his teacher a note asking him to lie about the boy's attendance record. Police say the teen promised to make his teacher rich if he went along with it.

Carlos Garcia knew his friend had problems but he never knew it would go this far.

"As soon as you do drugs it messes up your life," said Garcia. "You might have money for a while but then it messes up your life."

The Wilsonville High School student is accused of trying to bribe his teacher in order to make a drug run.  Police say the 17-year old planned to travel to California and Arizona.

"He was a good kid when we played football," said Garcia. "I knew he was into drugs a little bit. I didn't know he was selling."

Students say the suspect was known to do cocaine and other drugs

Detectives say the boy asked his teacher to lie on attendance records while he picked up drugs to sell to fellow students. The teacher reported everything to the principal right after it happened.

Police believe the suspect recently moved from Mexico and started at Wilsonville High late last year.  Detectives don't know if he has a criminal background, but students hope the teen can turn his life around.

If convicted the boy could face 20 years in jail.

School officials say they will have a formal hearing to decide whether to expel the student.