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Alabama High School Science Teacher Admitted Moonlighting as a Steroid Dealer for Almost 30 Years
An Alabama high school science teacher has been busted moonlighting as a steroid dealer by the Marshall County Drug Task Force (MCDTF). Even more shocking is the possibility that he has been doing this throughout his almost 30 year career in education.
David Darden has been employed as an Albertville High School science teacher since August 1991. The teacher's pay wasn't good enough as he apparently looked to supplement his income. Task force investigators first learned about his double life as a steroid dealer over a year ago. However, police only recently made contact with an individual who was in a position to purchase steroids from Darden.
MCDTF Unit Commander John Siggers revealed that undercover agents arranged a total of seven controlled purchases from Darden over the past two months. One of the controlled buys took place at his home. This was sufficient to obtain a search warrant where investigators confiscated nine vials of injectable steroids and two handguns.
The investigation culminated with the arrest of Darden at his home on November 3, 2016. Darden was charged with seven counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance (anabolic steroids) and one count of possession of a controlled substance according to Marshall County District Attorney Steve Marshall.
Unit Commander Siggers claimed that Darden admitted to being a part-time steroid dealer for almost 30 years. If this is true, it means Darden has been selling steroids for as long as he has been a teacher if not longer.
Greg Jordan, a former student interviewed by a local news station, reported hearing rumors of Darden selling bodybuilding drugs when he was in high school back in the 1990s.
"There was rumors going around that he was doing it back then but then I still like the guy," said Jordan.
Naturally, many parents are concerned that Darden may have sold steroids to their teenage children. So far, there is no evidence that this is true. Darden did not currently have any coaching responsibilities for any high school sports and police evidence indicate that Darden's customers were all adults.
Albertville City Schools Superintendent Ric Ayer emphasized the latter point in a statement released to the local media.
"It's our understanding at this point that no students were involved," said Aver. "We don't really comment on specific personnel actions, but I can tell you in similar cases, employees have been placed on administrative leave until their cases were taken care of in court."
Darden was released from Marshall County Jail after posting a $150,000 bond on Thursday night. If convicted, Darden faces a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison on each charge.