NATCHEZ — Drug charges against a teacher from Robert Lewis Middle School have been dismissed.

In March, Roosevelt M. Green, one of the school’s P.E. teachers was arrested for simple possession of marijuana.

Justice Court Judge Charlie Vess said charges against Green were dismissed when another man claimed ownership of the marijuana.

Joel J. Jackson, 22, of Lorman, claimed ownership of the marijuana and was charged with simple possession of marijuana on April 22.

“An alibi witness is the best thing a guy can have,” Vess said.

Upon Green’s arrest he was placed on administrative leave from his employment with the Adams County School District and has not since returned to work.

Vess said a document outlining Green’s case dismissal has been prepared to be presented to the district’s administrators.

However John Sullivan, the district’s human resources manager, said he has not received any such document.

Sullivan said he was still waiting to see an order from the court.

Beyond that Sullivan said he could not discuss the issues since it dealt with a pending personnel issue.

Scott Pintard, Green’s attorney, said a copy of the document outlining Green’s innocence had been sent to either Robert Lewis Middle School or the school district, but he was not sure which.

However Pintard said he later received word from the school district that since the document had been improperly sealed it would not be recognized.

On Tuesday Pintard said another copy of the document would be going to the school district.

For his involvement in the matter Green was apologetic.

While Green said he realized he did not actually have anything to apologize for he said he still felt as if he had let his family, school district and students down.

Green called the entire matter a learning experience.

“That $5 cost me about $3,000,” he said.

Green said the $5 worth of marijuana that actually belonged to Jackson resulted in approximately $3,000 worth of legal fees and other expenses he had to pay.

Surprisingly Green doesn’t sound bitter when he talks about the ordeal.

“It’s just a minor set back for a major comeback,” he said.