MERRILL, Wis. (WSAU) – A Merrill middle school teacher charged in an Antigo drug ring has been fired.

The Merrill school board voted Wednesday to fire Jay Peterson. The district publicly confirmed the board's decision in a statement Friday afternoon.

“The administration recommended the termination of Mr. Peterson's employment for his conduct involving the use and possession of marijuana and his failure to respond truthfully to inquiries from the administration during the course of its investigation,” the statement said.

Peterson is charged in Langlade County with possessing marijuana. A judge may decide next month whether to throw out some of Peterson's statements to investigators.

Court documents say Peterson bought the drug from his brother, Scot, who will enter a plea later this month to 23 charges of dealing marijuana.