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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Saturday, April 29, 2006

Teens say aide gave them drugs

By Eloise Aguiar
Advertiser Windward O'ahu Writer

KANE'OHE — Police are investigating allegations by some Castle High School students that a former substitute educational assistant gave them marijuana and alcohol during an unsanctioned hike last week.

However, police have not been able to talk to the 32-year-old man, whose roommate told police he moved out of his Kane'ohe home.

Police were at the school Thursday to attend a meeting called by parents. About a dozen students talked to police, including the son and niece of Bonnie Goldstein, Goldstein said.

Goldstein said her son and niece was among 10 students who had cut class on April 20 to go on a hike with the former educational assistant. Goldstein said her son made a report to police that the assistant bought cigarettes, alcohol and marijuana for the students and that some of the students used them.

Jodi Barques, the mother of Goldstein's niece, said her daughter made the same allegations. Barques said she was proud of her daughter for stepping forward.

Goldstein said her son also said the man claimed to practice witchcraft and to have the ability to cast a death spell on people.

Police said the assistant's roommate told them that the man's belongings are gone and that his house keys were left on the kitchen table with a note that he was leaving, police said. As of yesterday afternoon, police said they didn't know where he was, but they knew that he was from the Mainland.

Castle Principal Meredith Maeda said he first learned about the allegations last week. Maeda said he decided to no longer employ the assistant as of this week, but that it was for reasons unrelated to the students' allegations.

"A lot of it is not even related to us as a school," Maeda said of the alleged misconduct, adding that some of the events happened off campus.

A criminal background check of the man did not turn up any arrests, said Department of Education spokesman Greg Knudsen.

Reach Eloise Aguiar at eaguiar@honoluluadvertiser.com.