PAUL BILODEAU/Staff photoAmanda Roche

HAVERHILL, Mass. — The case against a fourth-grade teacher who was charged with drug offenses earlier this year has been dismissed, and school officials said they are ready to welcome her back.

Amanda Roche, 27, of Haverhill, a suburb of Boston near the New Hampshire border, had been on paid administrative leave from her job with Haverhill’s public schools since she and a co-defendant, Jim Alizee, were charged in April with possession of a class B substance, cocaine, with intent to distribute, possession of a class C substance, clonazepam, and conspiracy to violate drug laws. 

Alizee, who police said was the target of an investigation into drug dealing, was additionally charged with operating a motor vehicle without a license.

All charges against Roche were dismissed Friday at a hearing in Haverhill District Court. The dismissal came as her defense lawyer successfully argued that Roche was not involved in selling or taking drugs and that she was living in fear of Alizee, a former boyfriend who refused to move out of an apartment they had shared.

School Superintendent James Scully said Roche is welcome to return to her job when teachers go back to their classrooms for the start of the new school year. 

“Before these charges were levied against her, she was an outstanding teacher with an impeccable record,” Scully said. “I’m sure that when she returns she’ll be the same.”

Fearful of co-defendant

Roche and Alizee were arrested separately the night of April 9. 

Alizee was driving Roche’s 2008 Nissan Altima and carrying three bags of cocaine when he was arrested, police said.

According to a police affidavit in support of a request for a search warrant, police stated Alizee had been making cocaine deliveries all over the city during the evening and late-night hours in a white, four-door car that was later identified as Roche’s car.

A witness testified in an affidavit that Roche told her Alizee often took her car without her knowledge and that she repeatedly told him he did not have permission to drive it. The witness additionally testified that Roche was “fearful of him (Alizee).”

Roche’s defense lawyer, Scott Gleason of Haverhill, told The North Andover Eagle-Tribune on Monday that the police investigation had always focused on Alizee. Gleason said Alizee persisted in staying in Roche’s apartment against her wishes.

“They (police) didn’t even know who Amanda was as far as being any kind of a player in a drug distribution situation,” Gleason said. “We were able to access materials of the investigation that showed she (Roche) is the most innocent that somebody could possibly be.”

In his motion to dismiss the charges, Gleason told the court that after Roche broke off the relationship, Alizee continued to live in her apartment and that it “put her in a constant state of fear due to his bullying tactics.”

‘There is no drug involvement’

Although police said they found 20 empty baggies, along with two containing cocaine, in a black container in Roche’s bedroom, Sholds told the court that the items were more consistent with someone who has a drug problem as opposed to being a dealer.

Gleason said there was a time when Alizee had stayed in that bedroom and that Roche wasn’t aware drugs were there.

“It was totally unbeknownst to her,” Gleason said.

Gleason said he was able to prove that Roche did not take drugs by ordering a full hair follicle test immediately after her arraignment. Gleason said this type of drug test is the most thorough and detailed drug test a person can undergo and that the results of Roche’s test were “completely negative.”

“There was no and there is no drug involvement,” Gleason said, adding that Roche fully cooperated at every step of the proceedings.

“She is a wonderful young lady who just has extraordinary kindness and dedication to her craft,” Gleason said of Roche’s commitment to teaching.

Mike LaBella writes for The Eagle-Tribune.