Wednesday, December 5, 2007

Teacher Accused of Using High School as Personal Meth Lab

Posted at FOXNews.com.
A high school chemistry teacher found himself in hot water over the weekend when he was charged with making methamphetamine in his school lab, the Bakersfield Californian reported.

Jeff Scheidemantel, 32, who taught at Shafter High School, came under suspicion when he went online to buy red phosphorus, an important ingredient for making the drug, from a supplier outside the U.S.

After a month long investigation, police moved in on Saturday and searched Scheidemantel’s home and the school’s chemistry lab, where they confiscated several weapons and meth recipes, the Californian reported.

During the search of the lab, cops discovered chemicals necessary to begin producing the drug, authorities told the Californian, but no evidence of the finished drug at the school.

Click here to read the Bakersfield Californian story.

When cops bust a meth lab, the clean-up process can be quite daunting. According to a report from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment,

Methamphetamine production is associated with the release of numerous chemicals, such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), acids, bases,metals and chemical salts, in addition to methamphetamine itself. Specific chemical residues may vary depending on the cooking process that is utilized. Airborne contaminants are absorbed or deposited onto surfaces such as rugs, furniture, drapes, and walls and may also enter and contaminate heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. Chemical spills are not uncommon and may also impact residential surfaces. Presence of these chemicals may pose a health-risk to residents who reoccupy these structures after seizure (CEPHE 2003).

This is some nasty stuff to be exposing our children to. This guy, if he indeed was producing meth in a school lab, should be charged with a lot more the drug production, he should be charged with putting the health of all the children and teachers at that school at serious risk, and be forced to pay for the eventual clean up of the school.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Jeff Scheidemantel is 1 of only 3 teachers listed at Shafter High School on RateMyTeachers.com that haven't been rated. There are 40 teachers listed for Shafter H.S., and only three have not been rated at all. I wonder if this website cleans up its ratings when a teacher makes headlines in a somewhat "infamous" manner?