It's not illegal to teach drunk! Charges dropped against lit teacher

LIVE OAK, CA — Charges have been dropped against a second-grade teacher from Nuestro Elementary School who was arrested on suspicion of DUI and child endangerment after allegedly teaching while intoxicated.

The Sutter County District Attorney’s Office announced that they would not pursue the case due to insufficient evidence.

The incident occurred on the morning of October 2, when a co-worker reported that the teacher appeared to be intoxicated. Authorities confirmed that her blood alcohol content was nearly twice the legal limit for driving (.08%) approximately two hours after they first contacted her. However, District Attorney Jennifer Dupré stated that they could not prove that the teacher was under the influence when she drove to the school.

In a Facebook post, Dupré explained, “During the investigation, it could not be established that [the teacher] was under the influence when she drove to the school, as opposed to drinking only after arriving there.” Furthermore, the criteria for child endangerment were not met, as there was no specific evidence indicating that the children were in immediate danger.

Dupré emphasized that while teaching while intoxicated is highly inappropriate, it is not illegal. The teacher was initially jailed following the arrest, but the decision not to prosecute underscores the complexities of proving such cases under current law.

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The teacher’s identity has not been disclosed, and the school district has not commented on her employment status following the incident.

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