Libby teacher faces drug charges

LIBBY — A Libby High School teacher faces criminal charges after allegedly giving away drugs.

Mort Curtiss, 53, was charged with two counts of felony distribution of dangerous drugs in Lincoln County District Court.

Curtiss is an industrial arts teacher at Libby High School.

According to court records, Curtiss gave away Oxycontin pills and marijuana to an informant at the Elks Lodge earlier this month.

On March 4, a Lincoln County Sheriff’s deputy spoke with the informant who claimed that Curtiss had given out Oxycontin pills. Curtiss allegedly said he was doing the informant a favor and would not charge for the pills.

The deputy met with the informant and confirmed that the pills were Oxycontin.

Later that night, the informant allegedly was contacted by Curtiss and asked to smoke marijuana. The informant refused and met with Curtiss at a pickup truck outside the Elks. Curtiss allegedly gave the informant marijuana.

The deputy observed the interaction and later confirmed that Curtiss owned the pickup truck.

Curtiss was arrested last week and released on $50,000 bond.

According to the Libby School District, any employee who is arrested is placed on leave pending an investigation by the district.