BY KEITH LACEY
A local elementary school teacher suspended from her duties several weeks ago after being charged with drug trafficking had all allegations against her withdrawn Wednesday. Her lawyer expects her to be back teaching very soon.
Carla Masciangelo, 31, was charged Jan. 5 with possessing high-powered drugs such as Ecstasy and cocaine when stopped by Greater Sudbury Police in a vehicle being driven by Terry Long, 47, on Hwy. 17 near Whitefish.
All charges against Masciangelo were withdrawn by assistant federal Crown prosecutor Denys Bradley after Long, who has a terrible criminal record dating back over 30 years, was given a one-year jail sentence.
Inside Long?s vehicle, police found three ounces of cocaine, almost three grams of cannabis resin, three dozen Ecstasy pills, almost $2,500 in cash and drug paraphernalia, said Bradley.
Court heard at the time of the incident Long had had his driver? s license suspended for life.
Masciangelo, who was suspended with pay from Northeastern Elementary School after she was charged, wept openly and hugged her parents outside the courtroom after being cleared of all charges.
Defence counsel Berk Keaney said Masciangelo did nothing wrong, the court has recognized this and he expects her to be back teaching very soon.
?This was a classic case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time,? said the well-known lawyer.
The Rainbow District School Board?s director of education, Jean Hanson, issued a statement, saying the board will complete its own investigation before making a decision on Masciangelo?s teaching status.
?We are unable to share information pertaining to personnel matters, however, we can talk about the process that we follow,? said Hanson. ?Under these circumstances, our process involves removing the employee from the classroom until further information is obtained.
?The Board conducts its own investigation into the matter. At this time, we are still in the process of completing our investigation.?
Keaney said Masciangelo didn?t know Long well, but had accepted a ride with him to Manitoulin Island, where she was going to pick up a dog, when the vehicle was intercepted by police, said Keaney.
?She was an innocent passenger in a car...and only thought she was getting a ride when all hell broke loose,? he said. ?It was an unfortunate set of circumstances...she had met Mr. Long briefly and he offered a ride and she accepted.
?She had no idea he was transporting drugs.?
Now that Masciangelo has been quickly cleared of any wrongdoing, Keaney said his client should be reinstated as quickly as possible.
?Not only are you supposed to be presumed innocent...it?s been acknowleged she had nothing to do with any criminal activity,? said the veteran lawyer. ?There?s no reason she should not be allowed to have her life and career return to normal.?
This is a case where releasing the name of an accused who is presumed innocent has had a devastating effect, said Keaney.
?I?m not blaming police or anyone, but it raises a philosophical question,? he said. ?In our system, once charges are filed, everything is done to protect the complainant...including protecting their identity.
?In this particular case, police released my client?s name and her career and reputation have been severely tarnished and only a couple of weeks later, she?s been found guilty of nothing. It?s very unfortunate.?
It didn?t surprise him to see his client so emotional outside the courtroom, said Keaney.
Having your name, reputation and career tarnished and then being cleared within a one-month time frame has been very traumatic, he said.
?Fortunately, she had the love and support of her family who banded around her and supported her and that?s why she was so emotional with them,? he said.
Court heard Long was acting as a ?mule? bringing the drugs from the Greater Sudbury area to another destination. Police had received a tip he was carrying drugs and pulled the vehicle over and both Long and Masciangelo were charged.
Justice Guy Mahaffy said there was a significant amount of drugs involved in this case and noted people like Long who transport drugs for dealers
should know there will be a serious price to pay if caught.
