METAIRIE, La. — A mother was arrested last month in March after her 7-year-old son was found with 4 ounces of cocaine at J.C. Ellis Elementary School in Metairie, Nola.com reported.
Mari Mejia Zelaya, 25, was arrested on March 20 and booked with possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute and cruelty to a juvenile involving drugs, Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office said.
Zelaya pleaded not guilty Tuesday, Apr. 30 to possession of more than 28 grams of cocaine with the intent to distribute and cruelty to a juvenile involving drugs, Nola.com reported.
Deputies said the teacher saw "him removing four bags of what appeared to be powder cocaine from his cubby hole," and each bag had 28 grams of the drug, our partners reported.
Mejia said she was trying to earn money by holding the drugs for another person. However, the sheriff's office has not yet made another arrest in the case, according to the department.
Jefferson Parish Public Schools said in a statement that no other students or staff were involved in the incident.
Mejia's bail was set at $100,000.
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