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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, February 27, 2007

Teacher seeking bail on federal drug counts

Advertiser Staff

Bronwyn Kugle

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Bronwyn Kugle, an elementary school teacher in Kailua who was indicted last week on federal drug charges, will appear in court today for a hearing on whether she can be released on bail.

Kugle's co-defendant, Jesse Lee Badillo, 28, was released on $100,000 bond yesterday.

Kugle and Badillo were arrested Feb. 14 on charges of conspiracy to possess and distribute 2.2 pounds of cocaine as well as 990 tablets of MDMA, also known as Ecstasy. A federal grand jury handed down a criminal indictment of the pair last week.

Both have pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Kugle, 38, a Ka'elepulu Elementary School resource teacher, allegedly loaned Badillo $63,000 to purchase drugs on the Mainland and ship them here.

Her eligibility for release on bond has been complicated by the discovery of an unregistered handgun during a search of her home by agents. She claimed she acquired the weapon because of fears that drug dealers were planning to "tax" her — collect a portion of drug profits from her — according to government allegations.