Teacher pleads to reduced pot charge

Brooks

By Allison Scarbrough. OCP Editor.

HART — A 31-year-old Chicago man who stated in court that he is a math teacher appeared in 27th Circuit Court Monday, Feb. 2, for a motion hearing to reduce his 2013 felony conviction of manufacturing marijuana to a misdemeanor of marijuana possession.

Tyler Charles Brooks, with his attorney Jeffrey West of Muskegon, appeared before Judge Anthony Monton to reduce the charge. Brooks said, “I am looking forward to getting back to serving my community by teaching math.”

It was agreed upon by the defense and prosecution in 2013 that Brooks could plead to the lesser charge if he successfully completed his probation, which he did by abiding by all the conditions and paying off his fines and costs.

Oceana County Prosecutor Joe Bizon said Brooks’ conviction stems from a “medical marijuana related” offense. “He went beyond what the permissible rules are. He used to live here (in Oceana County) when he committed the offense.”

A call to West to gather more information about his client’s teaching career was not immediately returned.