An elementary school teacher in California will not be charged with any crime after she was found to be drunk in the classroom because teaching under the influence is not a crime, officials said.
Wendy Munson, 57, a second-grade teacher at Nuestro Elementary School, north of Sacramento, was originally arrested on Oct. 2, 2023, on suspicion of DUI and child endangerment, according to the Sutter County District Attorney's Office.
After a "lengthy investigation," it could not be established that Munson had driven to school while intoxicated, as opposed to drinking at the school, the DA said in a statement Monday, June 10. Prosecutors also determined the requirements for a child endangerment charge could not be met, as there was "no specific information indicating that the children in Munson’s class were placed in a position where their persons or health were endangered."
The "mere potential" that a dangerous situation could arise is not enough to bring charges, the DA's office said.
"While the District Attorney’s Office agrees that it is highly inappropriate to teach while intoxicated, it is, unfortunately, not illegal," the office added.
A co-worker raised suspicions that Munson was drunk at school, leading to her arrest shortly before 8:30 a.m. on Oct. 2. About two hours later, her blood-alcohol level was recorded at twice the legal limit, the Sutter County Sheriff's Office reported at the time.
"The District Attorney's position regarding criminal charges does not impact any decisions or discipline to be made by Superintendent Bal Dhillon or the Nuestro School District regarding the employment status of Munson," the DA's office stated.
Munson is no longer listed as a staff member on the Nuestro Elementary School website, but it's unclear whether she was fired or faced disciplinary action.
—TMX contributed to this report.
