• Central Coast Sun Bulletin ONLINE EXTRAS SITE SERVICES A drug-sniffing dog will begin pat... News briefs from San Diego Count

A drug-sniffing dog will begin patrolling the halls of La Jolla High School to help curb a drug problem among students from the upscale San Diego neighborhood.

La Jolla High has contracted with Interquest Detection Canine, a Houston-based company that works with 1,200 public school districts and private schools nationwide. For $2,000 a year, a golden retriever named Bucky will provide 10 random visits.

Principal Dana Shelburne decided to hire Bucky after graduating seniors told her in June that marijuana was fairly accessible on campus and a few girls were using cocaine for weight loss.

"I found out we have a problem, like a lot of schools do," Shelburne said. "It's not like I've noticed a huge spike. But I wanted to give students another reason to say no; another reason to say no if someone offers them something."

Campus officials and school police may search students, their backpacks, purses, jackets, lockers or vehicles if they have "reasonable suspicion," a lower standard than the "probable cause" typically needed for a law enforcement search.

If Bucky prompts a search that fails to turn up drugs, school officials will notify a student's parents as a precaution. If drugs are discovered, a student will be suspended. A student may be expelled for a third offense.

EL CAJON, Calif. (AP) - A former charter school administrator has admitted, as part of a plea bargain, that he sexually molested a boy he baby-sat over a two-year period.

Dennis Michael McKeown, 42, former principal at King-Chavez Academy of Excellence, pleaded guilty Thursday to three counts of committing lewd acts on a child under the age of 14.

Under terms of the plea agreement, prosecutors dropped additional charges of committing lewd acts on the 10-year-old boy, a relative of McKeown's who was around 7 when the incidents occurred.

McKeown faces a maximum of 12 years in prison when he is sentenced Nov. 30, prosecutor Kurt Mechals said. Had McKeown gone to trial and been convicted of all charges, he would have faced up to 24 years in prison, he said. McKeown remained free on $500,000 bond.

This is cache, read story here