Former state rep charged with accepting meth package at JP charter school

Stephen Doran, who served Lexington as a state representative for 14 years, was arraigned today on a charge of trafficking in methamphetamine.

Doran, first elected to the House when he was just 23, in 1980, was arrested yesterday after leaving for the day from the Match Middle School, where he was a tutor and where State Police charge he accepted delivery of a package containing 480 grams of "a crystalline substance believed to be methamphetamine," the Suffolk County District Attorney's office reports:

State Police conducting an ongoing investigation yesterday obtained a warrant to search a US Postal Service Express Mail package sent to Doran but bearing the address of the Match Charter Middle School where he is employed as a tutor.

Just after 12:30 yesterday afternoon, State Police stopped Doran as he left the school in his vehicle and opened the package, recovering two heat-sealed baggies containing 480 grams of a crystalline substance believed to be methamphetamine. Doran was placed under arrest, and because the substance was sent to the school he was additionally charged with violating the state's drug laws in a school zone.

At his arraignment today, West Roxbury District Court Judge Michael Coyne imposed bail of $10,000 and ordered Doran to wear a GPS device and remain confined at home except for medical appointments if he makes bail.

Doran, 57, is now a Dorchester resident. State Police executing a search warrant found another 38 grams of the substance in his home there, the DA's office says.

Innocent, etc.