A kindergarten teacher and a RIC student are charged with possessing marijuana with intent to deliver.

01:00 AM EDT on Wednesday, May 10, 2006

BY RICHARD C. DUJARDIN
Journal Staff Writer

NORTH PROVIDENCE -- A kindergarten teacher at the Child Care Connection in Central Falls and a Rhode Island College student were charged with possessing marijuana after the police raided their home last week.

Capt. Paul Martellini of the special investigations unit said Nichole Bauer and Katherine Branca, both 22, were under surveillance for about a month after the police received a tip that they were selling drugs.

The police took a search warrant to their home at 173 Woonasquatucket Ave. about 9 p.m. last Wednesday. Martellini said the women sat on a couch in front of the TV in an attempt to hide two bags of marijuana.

He said the five ounces of marijuana that detectives recovered was enough to charge the two with planning to distribute the drug.

Branca, a teacher at the Child Care Connection, and Bauer, a student at RIC, were charged with possession with intent to deliver marijuana and with conspiracy to violate the controlled substances act, both felonies.

In addition, Branca was charged with unlawful possession of a schedule 2 narcotic, Vicodin, and possession of a schedule 3 narcotic, Percocet, both felonies. He said the police discovered the drugs in vials with her name on it, but saw no evidence she had a prescription for either pain killer.

The women appeared before Chief District Court Judge Albert DiRobbio, who released themon $25,000 bail. They will be arraiged in Superior Court on July 13.

Margie McDaniel, spokeswoman for the Child Care Connection, said the agency learned about the arrests yesterday and suspended Branca without pay.

rdujardi@projo.com / (401) 277-7384