Woman accused of selling marijuana to junior high, high school students

SANDY — A Sandy woman accused of selling marijuana to minors was arrested Friday for investigation of distribution of a controlled substance.

"We received information there was a couple a husband and wife dealing marijuana to junior high school and high school kids," Cottonwood Heights Police Sgt. Gary Young said.

Lea Clausing, 34, has been arrested and is accused of selling marijuana to students at Albian Middle School and Brighton High School. While her husband has not been arrested in connection with the allegations, Young said police are meeting with prosecutors to discuss possible charges against the man.

A joint SWAT team made up of officers from Sandy and Cottonwood Heights served a warrant at the couple's home at 2665 Partridge Way just after midnight Friday, Young said.

Police reported that officers did seize a controlled substance from the home, but did not know what the substance was or how much there was of it.

Treybrim Hall, said a "huge bang" woke his entire family the night police arrived at the couples' home. The family then heard police announcing their presence at the home over a megaphone.

The sophomore at Brighton said he'd never heard Clausing was accused of selling drugs, but noticed a number of different cars at the home at all times.

"You can tell stuff is going down there," Hall said, adding that he was happy to hear of the arrest. "We don't really like that in our neighborhood. Hopefully this is the last straw, this is the end for them."

Another neighbor, Catherine Ross, also said she was not surprised by the news of the arrest and alleged drug dealing.

"It's kind of Grand Central Station there," she said of the woman's home. "People are always coming and going and it's rarely the same people."

Ross said Clausing had told her she was a former drug addict and a number of people in the neighborhood had concerns about the woman and her family living there. They even considered tracking down the landlord of the home to ask them to evict the couple.

"They've been kind of an issue all along, the whole time they've been here," Ross said.

Because the couple's home is within 1,000 feet of a school, Young said any potential charges that are filed would be enhanced.

"It is disturbing that in our community, people sell drugs to children," he added.

In addition to distribution of a controlled substance, Clausing is being investigated for possession of a drug paraphernalia.

E-mail: syi@ksl.com