The Orange County Criminal Lawyer Blog
A Las Vegas elementary school teacher on her way to work last Tuesday morning was placed under arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence.
46-year-old April Shepard is a fourth-grade teacher at Tom Williams Elementary School, and she has worked within the Clark County School District for a total of 21 years.
As Shepard entered the school parking lot around 7:30 a.m. on the morning of April 3 she reportedly made impact with two parked vehicles. When she tried to get out of her car she was unable to steady herself and two parents nearby came to her assistance by helping her to stand.
When CCSD Police arrived at the scene they determined that Shepard was displaying behavior indicative of someone who might be under the influence. The officers administered a field sobriety test, but they had to cease as Shepard nearly fell before it was complete. During the portions of the assessment that she did perform officers reported that Shepard displayed 14 indicators of possible impairment.
Shepard explained to the officers that she did not consume any alcoholic beverages but that her doctor had given her the prescription medication Tramadol, an opioid analgesic class drug used for managing pain, which she had taken on the previous day. She was unable to recall whether or not she had taken her 200 mg prescribed dose before school that morning.
Parents with children who attend Tom Williams Elementary School that have known Shepard for some time have spoken out in her defense reporting that she is known for her active lifestyle, including motocross racing, and that this is not behavior that they have seen her display in the past. Several of the parents believe that Shepard had a reaction to the medication she was prescribed.
Shepard was taken into custody and booked into the Clark County Detention Center. She is facing a charge of one misdemeanor count of driving under the influence with accident.
No one was hurt during the incident, and authorities are still awaiting the results of Shepard’s toxicology report for a record of what substances, if any, were present in her bloodstream.
Shepard was reported as removed from her position at the elementary school as a result of the arrest.
If you or someone you love is suspected of DUI, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.