Teacher, wife face marijuana-growing charges

BLOOMFIELD, Conn. (AP) — A high school teacher and his wife were charged Tuesday with growing large amounts of marijuana in their home.

Christopher Gallagher, 40, and Kristine Gallagher, 44, face numerous charges including operating a drug factory. Police said they seized 90 plants, 4 pounds of dried marijuana, three guns, $2,200 in cash and packaging supplies from their home on Tuesday.

Christopher Gallagher, an English teacher and lacrosse coach at Northwest Catholic High School in West Hartford, was being held on a $150,000 bond. Gallagher has taught at the school for eight years and has been placed on an indefinite administrative leave of absence, said Margaret Williamson, the high school's principal.

His wife was freed after posting a $50,000 bail.

Attempts to reach Kristine Gallagher on Wednesday morning were not successful. A telephone number listed for the couple was no longer in service. It was not clear if they had hired attorneys.

Both husband and wife were charged with cultivating more than one kilogram of marijuana, possession of more than four ounces of marijuana, possession with intent to sell, operating a drug factory and conspiracy. They were scheduled to appear in Hartford Superior Court on Wednesday.