Lisa Toler was indicted in December after police said they found marijuana plants, heat lamps and a book about growing marijuana in her Radford home. At the time, Toler was a seventh-grade teacher at Dublin Middle School.

At a hearing Friday morning in Radford Circuit Court, Toler entered an Alford plea to a lesser charge of possession of less than half an ounce of marijuana with the intent to distribute. That plea allows her to maintain innocence while admitting there is enough evidence for a conviction.

She was convicted and sentenced to 12 months in jail, all suspended. She will spend six months on probation and will have to pay $500 of a $1,000 fine. She must also perform 50 hours of community service. Toler's driver's license was suspended for six months, but she was granted a restricted license.

Toler was placed on leave with pay immediately after she was charged. Her current status with the school system is unclear. Joe Makolandra, director of human resources for the district, did not return calls seeking comment Friday.

-- Shawna Morrison