Policy

NY Teacher Who Brought Heroin to Jury Duty Gets Job Back

Judge says termination was excessive

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A city teacher who was found with heroin when he went for jury duty in Manhattan Criminal Court has been given his job back after a judge said it was "excessive" to fire him.

Damian Esteban brought the heroin in a pack of cigarettes when he arrived at the courthouse last year.

He was arrested after a court officer found the drugs during a routine check.

Esteban, who was teaching at Williamsburg High School for Architecture and Design, is a recovering drug addict and said he grabbed the wrong backpack that morning, not realizing the illicit substance was inside.