Police: Teacher’s Aide Involved in Drug Deal

A former Hudson Valley teacher’s aide and another woman were arrested after police say they were caught during a drug deal.

The Sullivan County Sheriff's Office Gang Intelligence and Narcotics Unit received complaints in January of drug sales occurring in and around the State Route 55 business corridor in White Lake.

On Thursday February 11th, detectives allegedly observed a drug transaction taking place near the Java Love Coffee Café. 34-year-old Kassandra Demondo, of White Lake, told police under questioning that she purchased 10 bags of heroin from 60-year-old Rhandye Dauch, also from White Lake, for $100.00.

According to the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office, Dauch, is the teacher’s aide who was arrested last summer in Fallsburgh after a syringe and heroin were found in the bathroom of an elementary school in 2013.

Dauch was charged with 3rd-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, a felony. She was sent to Sullivan County Jail in lieu of $1,000 bail. Demondo was charged with 7th-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. She was released on an appearance ticket. Both are due back in Bethel court on Monday February 29, 2016.

The U.S. Department. of Homeland Security Investigations assisted the Sheriff's Office.

In November of 2015, another woman was sentenced to 6 years in prison after she was caught selling drugs in the bathroom during a Fallsburg elementary school district Halloween party.