Carlsbad

A former Army sergeant was charged Wednesday with providing marijuana and methamphetamine to several of his students at the Army-Navy Academy in Carlsbad.

Carlsbad police arrested Robert Deering, 27, Monday at the small apartment complex in Oceanside where he is a manager. He was released from County Jail at Vista that night after posting $5,000 bail.

Deering was suspended by academy officials in January after they learned of allegations that he had been supplying drugs to about half a dozen 15- and 16-year-old cadets during gatherings at his apartment late last year.

The instructor, who was on loan to the academy under the Junior ROTC program, was discharged from the Army in late January, police say. Each of the cadets was suspended but subsequently given the option of returning to the academy under the condition that they be tested for drugs on a periodic basis.

Linda Miller, a spokeswoman for the district attorney, said Deering was charged with four counts of giving marijuana to the youngsters and a single count of providing methamphetamine. He is scheduled to be arraigned March 17 at Vista Municipal Court, she said.