Feb. 23, 2005 — An 18-year-old Thomasville resident and Ivanna Eudora Kean High School student, who has been the source of much contention at the East End school campus recently, was arrested Monday and charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute.
Keegan O'Brien was arrested 12:30 p.m. Monday at the Nadir circle when police officers observed him with a clear plastic bag with what appeared to be marijuana, police spokesman Sgt. Thomas Hannah said Wednesday.
After testing, the substance was found to be marijuana and bail was set at $10,000.
However, Hannah said bail had been reduced at O'Brien's advice of rights hearing Tuesday before Judge Brenda Hollar. However, because he "caused a ruckus" in Hollar's courtroom, she set bail at $5,000.
O'Brien is still in prison pending the posting of the bail.
Last year, Kean Principal Sharon McCollum-Rogers had protested the student being on campus, by walking off the job.
On the following day several teachers and students, in support of Rogers, marched on the Superior Court, the Legislature, Government House and the Education Department in support of Rogers and in protest of the student's return by Superior Court judge Leon Kendall. (See "Kean to Reopen Monday, Justice Files Appeal").
In all 900 students missed three days of school because of the job action.
Rogers was found in contempt of court in December for failing to comply with a court order to allow O "Brien, who remained unnamed at the time because he was a minor, to return to the campus. (See "Judge Finds IEKHS Principal in Contempt of Court").
Documents from Superior Court referred to the youth by his initials K.O. Hannah confirmed Wednesday that O'Brien was the person who sparked the controversy at Kean.
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