Michigan Criminal Lawyers Blog
Kelly Meyers, principal at Oregon High School in Oregon, WI, has been placed on administrative leave after being arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol three times this month. According to news articles, Meyers has been on medical leave since the beginning of the school year, and will remain on leave as the allegations against her are investigated.
Police officials in Fitchburg and Oregon confirm that Meyers was arrested in their districts, twice in Fitchburg and once in Oregon. She had not appeared in court on the charges as of the time of news reports on December 23.
Meyers worked at Oregon High School as associate principal before being hired as principal in 2012. Prior to that, she served as principal for 14 years at Verona High School from 1994 to 2008. According to Oregon Schools Superintendent Brian Busier, she was an excellent and trusted principal. School Board president Dan Krause said that the board would make a decision as to what to do following the investigation, as they want to find out the facts of the matter.
While Meyers has not appeared in court on the DUI allegations yet, in Michigan an individual who is convicted of two prior DUI charges will face felony charges for a third drunk driving offense. The consequences of a third DUI are life-changing, as the individual will be a convicted felon which can impact employment, professional licenses, housing, and more.
A third DUI convicted may leave the accused facing up to five years in prison, along with fines of up to $5,000. The offender will also face a mandatory minimum of 30 days in jail, community service, vehicle forfeiture, driver’s license revocation, and successful completion of an alcohol education class.
As you can see, drunk driving is no laughing matter. While first-time offenders face serious criminal penalties, repeat offenders face consequences that are far more damaging. If you have been arrested for driving under the influence, it is critical that you work with a skilled and aggressive Michigan DUI defense attorney. Your legal rights, freedom, and reputation must be protected.