By Kelsey Givens

A second Nye County School District employee is reportedly in trouble with the law after she was arrested for possession of methamphetamine and maintaining a residence for the use and sale of controlled substances Wednesday evening.

Verona Worthington, 31, a health aide at Pahrump Valley High School, was arrested on charges of conspiracy to violate the Uniform Controlled Substance Act, possession of methamphetamine, under the influence of a controlled substance meth , maintaining a residence where illegal drugs are used and sold, possession of drug paraphernalia and child endangerment.

According to a press release issued by the Nye County Sheriff’s Office, a narcotics detective applied for a telephonic search warrant for a home on Turtle Street from Justice of the Peace Kent Jasperson late that evening.

After being granted permission to search the residence, members of the sheriff’s SCORPION Task Force arrived at the address to find a 13-year-old female and 15-month-old female home alone.

A short time later, Worthington pulled into the driveway and police made contact with the woman to question her about possible drug-related activities at the residence.

Worthington told officers only she, her two daughters and a male live in the home, adding that she was not currently using methamphetamine.

When asked about possible meth sales police believed were conducted from that address, Worthington said she hadn’t used methamphetamine since her youngest daughter was born, even offering to take a voluntary urine test to prove she was clean.

Deputies allowed the woman to take the test, which she reportedly failed, testing positive for methamphetamine and amphetamine-type compounds.

After alerting her to the fact she had tested positive for having controlled substances in her system, Worthington reportedly told police the male who lives in the home with her must have spiked her drink the other day, stating she felt weird and felt the affects of methamphetamine after consuming the allegedly tainted beverage.

Deputies then conducted a search of the home at which time they found several “hide-a-cans,” or false compartment containers, in the master closet, master bathroom and garage, which each held packaging baggies.

Worthington was subsequently placed under arrest for various drug-related charges and transported to the Nye County Detention Center where she was booked into custody just after midnight.

A statement issued by the Nye County School District said Worthington has since been removed from her position with the district pending further investigation. They would not elaborate further on her employment status as they said it is confidential since it is a personnel matter.

An alert was sent out to school district parents Thursday morning notifying them of the recent arrests of two school district employees.

“In light of the recent arrests of two employees of the district, the Nye County School District would like to assure you we are taking every precautionary measure to assure we are providing appropriate education in a safe and secure environment,” the statement read. “While both of the arrests are personnel issues and cannot be discussed, you may contact the Superintendent’s Office at 775-727-7743 if you have questions.”

A busy signal at the district’s main office greeted callers for some of the morning and afternoon Thursday.

Worthington’s bail was set at $28,137 and she remained in custody at the local detention center as of Thursday morning.