Former North Andover High School teacher and swim coach, Elizabeth Backler, 28, of Newburyport, pleaded not guilty to 2 counts of Distribution Class B (Oxycodone) and 1 count of Distribution Class C (Diazepam) at her arraignment in Lawrence District Court this morning.
Judge Mark Sullivan ordered her to stay away from and have no contact with the victim and the witness; to stay away from North Andover High School; to have no unsupervised contact with children under 18 years old; to remain drug-free except for prescribed drugs; and to submit to random drug screens.
Essex Assistant District Attorney Heidi Mader told the court that in June, the North Andover Police initiated an investigation after a parent expressed concern to a school official about the defendant’s behavior with her child. Through their investigation, North Andover Police learned that the student was seen swallowing something that appeared to be a pill that the defendant had given her. It was later learned that it was Oxycodone.
“These allegations are very troubling,” said North Andover Police Chief Paul Gallagher. “The North Andover Police Department will continue to work closely with the North Andover Public Schools and the Essex District Attorney’s Office to ensure that our students are safe.”
The defendant is scheduled to return to court on November 3, 2015 for a pre-trial hearing. She is represented by Attorney Melinda Thompson and is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
