A West Middlesex Area High School student was arrested Thursday for giving a prescription drug used in treating insomnia to two other students.

William Shirley, 18, of 1309 Bend Road, Lackawannock Township, was charged with one count of possession of Temazepam and two counts each of possession with intent to deliver the drug and corruption of minors.

Shirley, a senior, gave at least four pills to two 16-year-old students at 1:07 p.m. at the high school, Southwest Mercer County Regional police said.

School board president Thomas Hubert said he was told by Superintendent Albert Jones that a student was given the drug at Mercer County Career Center by another student, and school officials started investigating when the students returned to the high school.

"I don't know how they became aware of it," Hubert said.

Hubert said he did not know if any students had become ill.

Jones and High School Principal Russell Ridenbaugh could not be reached for comment.

Hubert added that he prefers not to have too much information about cases such as this because the board might be convened to discipline the student.

"I have to let the administration handle it until it come before the board," Hubert said.

Shirley has been suspended indefinitely until a hearing is scheduled, Shirley's father said at his son's arraignment.

Southwest Police Chief Riley Smoot said he did not know if the students had ingested the drugs.

"We're getting our information from the school," he said. "We're helping them and they're helping us."

Smoot said he had never heard of the drug before.

Shirley was arraigned before District Justice Henry J. Russo, Hermitage, who released him on the conditions that he stay away from the school unless he has to be there for an official purpose, and to stay away from the alleged victims.

Shirley's preliminary hearing is set for 11 a.m. March 19.