Two Underwood teachers who’ve been charged with two felony counts of pharmacy prohibited acts, have been placed on paid administrative leave. Superintendent Ed Hawks told the Daily NonPareil 34-year old’s Samantha and Heath Telleen were placed on leave under the advice of legal counsel. The couple turned themselves in to the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office last week, after a warrant for their arrest was issued March 7th in connection with the alleged use of stolen prescription pads to obtain pain medication in Iowa and Nebraska. If convicted, they face up to 20 years in prison and a maximum $20,000 fine. A pre-trial hearing is scheduled for March 28 at 9:30 a.m.
Samantha Telleen works as a special education teacher at Underwood Middle School while Heath Telleen teaches social studies at Underwood High School. The couple allegedly used prescription pads 14 times from Underwood Family Practice, according to a criminal complaint. Seven were used in Council Bluffs. Other incidents happened in Nebraska.