by WKRC
Tue, June 11th 2024 at 4:16 PM
Updated Tue, June 11th 2024 at 8:53 PM
SUTTER COUNTY, Calif. (WKRC) - A teacher who was arrested for being intoxicated while teaching her second-grade class will not face any charges.
Wendy Munson, a second-grade teacher at Nuestro Elementary, was arrested in October 2023 when a coworker expressed suspicions that Munson was teaching while drunk.
Investigators said they tested Munson's blood alcohol content at the scene, which was two times the legal limit.
Sutter County District Attorney Jennifer Dupre said she spent months searching for something to charge Munson with, but came up with nothing.
"It is not illegal to teach drunk," she said.
Dupre initially believed Munson drove to school intoxicated, but was unable to prove it, saying "There was the possibility that she drank after she arrived at the school."
She said that to prove Munson had been publicly intoxicated, "we would have to prove that she is unable to care for herself and others, and the investigation didn't show that."
(Photo by Jon Cherry/Getty Images)
Dupre also explained a difficulty with enforcing the child endangerment law. Dupre had to prove that Munson "would" harm the children, and not just that she "may" harm them.
"We couldn't prove that her intoxication would endanger them," Dupre said.
Despite authorities reporting Munson's BAC at double the legal limit, Dupre was not able to bring any criminal charges on the teacher.
Dupre said, "We tried because I don't like the conduct. It's not acceptable, but it's unfortunately not criminal."
Parents have expressed their concern about the precedent that this case sets. Can teachers be drunk in the classroom without punishment?
Matthew Cudney, a nearby resident, said, "If you show up to any job intoxicated, that's a fireable offense."
Nuestro Elementary's staff handbook says that violators of its alcohol-free restrictions will be terminated if termination is required by law. Munson is no longer listed on their website as a teacher, but they have not made a public comment on the situation.
Source (Archive)
Tue, June 11th 2024 at 4:16 PM
Updated Tue, June 11th 2024 at 8:53 PM
SUTTER COUNTY, Calif. (WKRC) - A teacher who was arrested for being intoxicated while teaching her second-grade class will not face any charges.
Wendy Munson, a second-grade teacher at Nuestro Elementary, was arrested in October 2023 when a coworker expressed suspicions that Munson was teaching while drunk.
Investigators said they tested Munson's blood alcohol content at the scene, which was two times the legal limit.
Sutter County District Attorney Jennifer Dupre said she spent months searching for something to charge Munson with, but came up with nothing.
"It is not illegal to teach drunk," she said.
Dupre initially believed Munson drove to school intoxicated, but was unable to prove it, saying "There was the possibility that she drank after she arrived at the school."
She said that to prove Munson had been publicly intoxicated, "we would have to prove that she is unable to care for herself and others, and the investigation didn't show that."
(Photo by Jon Cherry/Getty Images)
Dupre also explained a difficulty with enforcing the child endangerment law. Dupre had to prove that Munson "would" harm the children, and not just that she "may" harm them.
"We couldn't prove that her intoxication would endanger them," Dupre said.
Despite authorities reporting Munson's BAC at double the legal limit, Dupre was not able to bring any criminal charges on the teacher.
Dupre said, "We tried because I don't like the conduct. It's not acceptable, but it's unfortunately not criminal."
Parents have expressed their concern about the precedent that this case sets. Can teachers be drunk in the classroom without punishment?
Matthew Cudney, a nearby resident, said, "If you show up to any job intoxicated, that's a fireable offense."
Nuestro Elementary's staff handbook says that violators of its alcohol-free restrictions will be terminated if termination is required by law. Munson is no longer listed on their website as a teacher, but they have not made a public comment on the situation.
Source (Archive)
