NEENAH, Wis. (WBAY) – A middle school teacher in Neenah has been placed on leave, the school district said Monday, after he was investigated for drug possession.
Benjamin Schmidt was charged on December 30 with Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Tetrahydrocannabinols (THC).
In a response to a request for comment, the Neenah Joint School District told Action 2 News that the district has been made aware of allegations concerning one of its staff members. Upon discovery of the situation, the staff member was immediately placed on administrative leave.
“The investigation into the allegations is still ongoing and the staff member remains on administrative leave,” the district said. “The District is committed to ensuring a safe environment for all and, upon conclusion of the investigation, will take all appropriate steps to resolve the situation.”
According to a criminal complaint, Schmidt’s wife called police on December 15 and told a sergeant that her husband had “hydroxy 7” and “kratom” in the home. The sergeant looked up these substances and noted that “kratom,” also known as mitragynine, was a Schedule I Controlled Substance. Further, 7-hydroxymitragynine was a Schedule I Controlled Substance.
The complaint states the wife told authorities that her husband had surgery three years prior and was prescribed medication. Some point after that, the wife stated in the complaint that her husband began to behave suspiciously and was heavily using various THC products. She indicated she believed Schmidt was spending upwards of $1,500 on THC and other products each month.
As she was cleaning the house to prepare for their divorce, the complaint states the wife’s cousin came to help and told her the substances around the house were not legal substances. The complaint says she found gummies in baggies around the house and had seen them in her husband’s work bag.
The complaint states she also saw him take a scoop of the bagged kratom, which was above the stove, and put it in his drink before going to school. She also is recorded in the complaint saying her husband sometimes appeared impaired after coming home from work.
The wife described her relationship with her husband as “abusive”, although she acknowledged Schmidt had never gotten physical with her.
When officers later went to Neenah Middle School to question Schmidt, the complaint states they found THC products in his car, as well as an empty bag of Kratom Malay, 100 capsules/60 grams, in the bottom right drawer of Schmidt’s desk in his classroom.
During an interview, the complaint says Schmidt stated that he and his wife were going through a divorce and this incident and report were consistent with what she would do to gain leverage. When asked if he had anything on school property, Schmidt said he did not. He also denied having THC vapes in his car. When asked about the THC vape located in his car, Schmidt said it was Delta 8.
Schmidt stated he did not ingest illegal substances while at the school.
Schmidt’s next court appearance is January 27. He faces a potential seven-month sentence in prison and a possible decade-long revocation of his driving privileges if convicted on all counts.