Pct. 4 Constable Press Release – New Caney Teacher’s Aide Arrested

The Precinct 4 Constable’s Office arrested a Special Education Teacher’s Aide on drug charges Thursday after an investigation resulting from a tip that she was selling narcotics from her residence.

Maureen Denise Hicks, 53, is charged with Possession of Marijuana in a Drug Free Zone. The charge would have been a class B misdemeanor, but is enhanced to a class A because of the location.

After learning Hicks was employed by New Caney ISD, Pct. 4 Lt. Mark Seals went to Porter Elementary and spoke with Hicks who agreed to go to the residence she shares with her husband in the 22100 block of Spears Road off of Loop 494 in Porter.

Hicks admitted having approximately 1.5 ounces of marijuana in her residence, but refused to give her consent for investigators to search the home. A Pct. 4 K-9 unit responded to the location and the dog gave a positive odor response indicating the presence of narcotics in Hicks’ vehicle. A search of the vehicle revealed a small amount of raw marijuana.

During the course of the investigation, deputies began to notice a large number of children on an adjacent property, which belongs to a church with a daycare and is separated from the Hicks’ yard by only a fence. On the church side of the fence is a playground where some of the children were playing at the property line as they tried desperately to get a better look at what was happening at the Hicks’ home.

After marijuana was found in Hicks’ vehicle, Lt. Seals drafted a search warrant for the residence, which was signed by Pct. 4 Justice of the Peace James Metts.

Inside the residence’s master bedroom, investigators recovered multiple clear plastic bags containing marijuana, two marijuana grinders and a .40 caliber Glock handgun. In a different bedroom, they discovered another bag of marijuana and a marijuana smoking pipe.

Maureen Hicks was arrested and transported to the Montgomery County Jail.

Pct. 4 Constable Kenneth “Rowdy” Hayden said he was proud of the how quickly and smoothly the investigation and the arrest were handled.

“We’re always glad to take illegal drugs off the streets, and it’s something we do on a daily basis, but this case stands out,” Constable Hayden said. “This suspect lives on a property where a lot of children are very nearby, and she’s also someone who works for a school district and has been entrusted to work with children.”

“As parents, we all want to know we’re placing our children’s safety and education in the hands of responsible, law abiding people who are not drug abusers,” he said. “Sometimes, people like Ms. Hicks slip through the cracks, but eventually they’ll be caught and held accountable.”