Matthew R. Kiser

A former Warren middle school teacher who took a backpack full of illegal drugs to work was sentenced on Friday to nearly five years in state prison.

Matthew R. Kiser, 44, of Warren, was sentenced on a total of four dockets by President Judge Maureen Skerda.

At the time of his plea, Skerda asked Kiser if he admitted to particular actions: Possessing more than 70 grams of marijuana and 2.2 grams of methamphetamine “in your backpack at Beaty Middle School”… “entering Beaty Middle School with a backpack containing methamphetamine, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia throughout the month of April,” and that “police located a methamphetamine pipe in your desk drawer” at school; and, in another docket, “delivered methamphetamine to another person” while in a mental health unit.

Kiser admitted to actions that resulted in the charges and subsequent sentencing. His attorney, Henry Borger, told the court on Friday of “an addiction that dates back to probably (Kiser’s) late adolescence…” when he was exposed to “pain-killing-type drugs” as a result of a wrestling injury.

Skerda told Kiser that the sentence she was imposing gives the defendant “ample time” if he is serious about his recovery.

First Assistant D.A. Cody Brown, prior to Kiser’s sentencing, said the former teacher put at risk “each and every one of those children,” adding that the charges relating to having a backpack of drugs at Beaty Warren Middle School adds a school-zone enhancement to the charges and additional months to the sentence.

That sentence stems from Kiser pleading guilty to the charges.

“The court has heard enough to hold you accountable,” Skerda said. “By your own admission, (you) suffer from an addiction.”

For complete details, see Saturday’s Times Observer.