EDC school superintendent admits to DUI
By Kathryn Reed
Jeremy Meyers, El Dorado County superintendent of schools, was booked at the El Dorado County jail in Placerville on Aug. 22 on driving under the influence charges stemming from an incident in June. This was a condition of having pleaded no contest to the charges, which is the same as a guilty plea when it comes to sentencing.
He admitted that on June 9 he was driving under the influence with a blood alcohol level of more than 0.08 percent.
Jeremy Meyers
Although the booking statement from the weekend says there were drug charges, the criminal complaint from the district attorney does not. The latter is what ultimately matters and is what the court used for the sentencing guidelines.
The court process has been completed. All that remains is for Meyers to go through a first time DUI offenders’ course, which can take up to 18 weeks. He will also be on probation for four years.
“He was sentenced to five days in jail. That was probably because of the blood alcohol. He was treated no different than anyone else,” David Stevenson with the El Dorado County District Attorney’s Office told Lake Tahoe News.
He was, however, allowed on the night of the infraction to be released into the custody of his wife and friend instead of being taken to jail. The California Highway Patrol cited him that night when they pulled him over on Highway 49.
“I sincerely apologize for this personal mistake. I have already accepted responsibility and am personally dealing with my error in judgment. Most importantly, I want everyone to know that this will not interfere with the great work of EDCOE in continuing to provide quality education for all of the children and families in our county,” Meyers, 44, said in a prepared statement issued by his attorney.
Paul Zappettini, Meyers’ attorney, told Lake Tahoe News alternative sentencing allowed Meyers not to have to spend a night in jail.
“The El Dorado County Office of Education is aware that county Superintendent Jeremy Meyers was cited for driving under the influence. He is dealing with this matter on a personal basis. EDCOE will continue to focus on delivering quality service and support to the community,” Dina Gentry, spokeswoman for the office of ed, told Lake Tahoe News.
Meyers was first appointed by the school board to the position effective July 1, 2013. He was taking over for Vicki Barber who retired. At the time Meyers was the deputy superintendent. In June 2014 he ran unopposed for a four-year term.
Well. This starts the schools out just fine .I sometimes wonder if they just hire anybody off the streets .Hummmmmmm
“Do as I say, not as I do”, seems to be the message here.
He should face the consequences and resign if he has any class left which is questionable already. Why some high achievers can’t stay out of trouble after all they have to do to get there is always a shame, but his choices put him there and he has self destructed and needs to resign and let a competent person take over.
Now that he can’t be a good example, as the El Dorado County superintendent of schools, he will just have to serve as a horrible warning! That, in addition to the appropriate consequences!
Unnecessary position of an unnecessary department. Time to get rid of it altogether while change is clearly in order.
Justice aren’t you being quick to judge without knowing all of the facts? If a President of the United States can have sex with an intern in the oval office and lie to Congress, the American people, his wife and keep his job, why can’t Mr. Meyer’s keep his job? We are living in a world where moral standards have changed.
This is only the tip of the iceberg with shady management of the El Dorado county office of Education. As a teacher in El Dorado county this is an embarrassment. If any of the charges are proven he must resign.
KC; He wouldn’t be arrested and charged without a simple standard of probable cause to believe he is guilty of the charges. Without a moral compass many do become lost but there are many more that have it than don’t and the good people of this country are ready to save it from further decline. The Clinton’s are very self-destructive people and very wealthy from being sell outs of this country and it is very apparent to the people who are not rabid leftists of just who and what they are. This is why Crazy Uncle Joe is out shopping for a new head of hair and he is about to enter the race.
Lisa:He was not hired, he was elected.
Now who do we elect Teacher ?
Teacher, I know that School Board members are elected, but I was under the impression that the Superintendent’s job was a hired position.
The superintendent of El Dorado County Office of Education is elected: https://www.laketahoenews.net/2014/03/june-election-full-choices-tahoe-voters/
LTN staff
It looks like he was appointed to the position and then ran unopposed in June 14. The question is what happens now and if he will resign or be removed or try to sweep it under with a high paid defense attorney.
I love teachable moments. The El Dorado Co Superintendent of schools is a position elected by the voters of El Dorado Co. Mr. Meyers run unopposed . As voters we need to replace him if he runs again.
He received, what appears to be, special treatment from the beginning and the charges don’t look like they reflect the initial charges made during the arrest as the controlled substance allegation wasn’t charged and charges were reduced. His not going to jail as any member of the average public would doesn’t speak well for those involved in this.
Amazing this was kept buried since June. Great Job Kae for tracking this down. Most links by others on the story are gone? Puzzling? Lucky for Mr. Meyers his position is elected – voter memories can be short and elections a long way off. None the less credibility and respect among the community and peers can’t be good.
People have to wonder how the other papers and media missed and/or covered this up. The Placerville paper is well known for this type of thing and it wouldn’t surprise anyone they were told to not print anything about it.
Did I not see a different story about this earlier today? in any case. I’m going to take a different path on this. I don’t think loosing his job really does anything positive.
He should pay all of his fines, He should spend all of his 5 days in Jail and if he gets any community service he should do it all and not the easy way that it is sometimes given out.
Then when he is done with all of that then he should go speak and work with groups of troubled youth and talk about his own foolishness and his own poor judgement and what hopefully he has learned. This could be helpful to youth that may be on the wrong path, then maybe something positive can come out of this
It’s kind of like the person who dumps trash out in the woods or desert and then gets caught and fined for what he did. I think it is more effective for that person to spend a few months picking up trash on his or her days of. Thus making for a real teachable moment.
Tough to be human amongst this crowd.
The danger is why he would be driving a vehicle in his condition and if he is impaired while working and if this has been going on a long time. It is also questionable what controlled substance he was in possession of and if that was the cause of his DUI. Was he taking pills or opiates from someone and driving? His blood alcohol would indicate the presence of alcohol which was reported. Was he combining alcohol and controlled substances? The report needs to be made public from the arresting agency which was probably the CHP so the facts can be plain. At least then people will have the facts and can make informed decisions about who is in this elected position.
“…He was treated no different than anyone else,” David Stevenson with the El Dorado County District Attorney’s Office told Lake Tahoe News.” Bull
How many people can truthfully say that they have never driven a car while feeling “buzzed”? I’m not condoning it and I am glad he was taken off the road. I know law enforcement people who have driven under the influence. Several of them. Let’s hope this was an isolated incident and that he never does it again. If his family knows this is a repeated behavior then they should insist that he go into a program.
As far as the press not getting on it, it was well hidden from us. It was not until the public record of his arrest which I reported at 9 am yesterday was there any public record of his transgressions in June.
Yes he was appointed by Outgoing Vicki Barbara and then ran for election last year. As he was already appointed and anointed by popular Dr. V. Barbara, no one ran against him.
He has two years to recoup his reputation, but it is an elected office and many of the comments here reflect what will be heard on the campaign trail in his future.
I like the man myself but 44 and educated leaves no tolerance for a man that is in a high profile public position as the leading educational role model for our youths.
If you look carefully at the original charges before plea bargaining them away, you will notice the charge is commonly used when a person has POT on them but no script!
So he will have a lot of explaining to do if he hopes to retain his elected office.
As far as Mr. Meyers DUI and drug offenses go, I’m sure it will be “selective enforcement” as it always is
depending on who you are… it’s all about who you know with connections to those in power.
He will walk away and nothing will happen to him and he will keep his job as superintend of schools for El Dorado County.
What a fine example for our youg ones!!!
Take care and don’t drink an drive. OLS
Maybe the biggest question is when did EDCOE last drug test Mr. Meyers and what were the results?
Since when are dui suspects released to their family when they do not serve their sober up period?
Old Long Skiis is correct!
All the time, Terri. Happened up here a couple years ago, on the Nevada side of Stateline. They kept that one REALLY well hushed up, at least as far as who and how influential the guy was.
It happens when the VIP card is played to the CHP on some occasions and this was likely one of them.
Boy this sounds like a lynch mob here, Anybody on here ever make a mistake. I do think because of his position as schools chief. He could turn this around to something that would help some kids by his example.
When an elected official in this county is arrested for anything it is news and for DUI and drugs, it IS a BIG DEAL and should be. The circumstances surrounding it are also fair game as is the frequency of use and if any on the job use is involved. This is someone who works for the people who answers to the people and people aren’t paying for an incompetent to be in office when they find out about it. Especially someone being a role model for students.
Lynch mob is right, Fifty Year. Holy smokes!
As a member of the general public who has been booked, charged, and sentenced for a DUI in El Dorado County – almost none of this has been special treatment.
After being brought back to the jail, I was released to a family member within an hour. From there I was given the option to serve my jail time through community service or house arrest, like Mr. Meyers, I chose house arrest. He will have his license suspended, pay fines and be forced to go through a DUI education program. And will then have a restricted license for six months, just like everyone else.
The only thing different is he was arrested and not booked immediately, I’m guessing because the DA wanted to wait for conclusive evidence before filing charges? As a public official, it would have been bad if he had been wrongly/prematurely charged, right? So maybe the DA was waiting until they are sure. Special treatment? Maybe. But that’s pretty miniscule…
Most news agencies get their information from county bookings. So it doesn’t look like there was a cover up happening – it was caught by the news as soon as Meyers was booked.
Special treatment on the drug charges? Maybe. But if the DA chose to drop them, it’s probably because there wasn’t evidence there. Why jump straight to special treatment when charges like this are dropped almost every day because of lacking evidence?
People make mistakes – everyone. There are consequences, and he will pay them. Just like everyone else. Let’s live with some compassion and do our best to give people the benefit of the doubt, rather than assume to know them and everything about their mistakes.
Looks like everyone here is perfect. Mistake free lives. Lets have the process unfold as it should and we will see where it goes and voters can take this into account should he run again.
To all of you who say “It was a DUI, he’s human, show some compassion” — I say: —- You!
DUI’s kill people. DUI’s maim people. It shows a lack of respect for oneself but also the general public. Drunk drivers put other people at risk without them knowing it.
Alan get a grip. Everyone knows drunk driving kills people and this person will pay the price in whatever way the legal system delivers it. No one is remotely suggesting he should not be punished to the full extent of the law. All the piling on about his job or he was treated differently because of his position is pure speculation on the part of people who were not there and have no clue.
Who cares.
The speculation on this arrest are by people who don’t have the facts, they will be in the arresting officer’s report as to what happened. When the former DA was arrested for DUI it was all over local media when it happened without a long delay of months. The agency that arrested Meyers should provide their own facts and press release as to their actions in this case so people have the facts for their own decisions about this elected official’s actions.
This all just illustrates one of the biggest problems in our country today: the lowering of the bar.
We used to expect those who aspired to higher positions to actually BE exceptional people. We all hoped that we (and our children) would be better than average. Now, if somebody merely shows up, they’re considered to be high achievers, and we expect to be disappointed regularly.
How sad.
Dogula I disagree. I believe a certain percentage of humans will always have some form of social/moral dysfunction. The Eisenhower Utopian era of the nuclear family being perfect was bought and sold to us. People’s problems were kept much more hidden, and laws today are much more stringent especially with things like alcohol use and drugs.
Headline: John Doe arrested for DUI. Mr. Doe works for the garbage company. Mr. Doe had a small amount of drugs on him without a doctor’s recommendation. Comment: Mr. Doe should loose his job. How can we let trash like this pick up our trash. Liberude, first time I agree with you. Who cares.
The fact that this happened back in June with no disclosure or acknowledgement raises serious transparency and honesty issues with the El Dorado County Office of Education. This guy is a highly paid educational administrator and provided the privilege of his position for his judgement and leadership skills and answers directly to the citizens and taxpayers, he is not a dishwasher at the casinos or a ski bum at a local ski area. Fact of life, he is held to a higher standard and should have known the risky consequences of his actions.
Cierra, unfortunatly this blog is not the place to find much, if any, compassion amongst its trolling responders. I cant imagine being publically tried by many of the seemingly perfect people above who have never made any mistakes in their lives (NOT). I can only hope that this “criminal” can make lemonade out of his mistakes. A totally teachable moment indeed!!!
The law applies to everyone. Mr. Meyers should be held accountable for all charges. Look at the story in the Sacramento Bee today and the story in the Lake Tahoe news. The stories and dates do not match. What are we to think as parents in this
County?
Nature bats last. I think if Mr. Meyers bust was handled and presented correctly to the community, it could be a good lesson for adults and children alike. Don’t drink and drive, do not have unprescribed medicine with you or a controlled substance.
Turn lemons into lemonade and hopefully Mr. Meyers can turn his life around and show the county, that, yes, you can change and make a difference. OLS
Can you imagine any of us getting arrested for drunk driving (2x the legal limit), having prescription drugs that have no prescription and narcotics and some how getting the, what??? the sheriff, District Attorney to allow you postpone your booking for over two months to “fight this behind the scenes”!! Which I will interpret, means this is intentionally hidden not only from tax payers but also the parents, students and the public of El Dorado County. I want to know how does one get this type of power because this miracle of postponement of booking, sentencing, trial, and even delayed media attention is jut amazing! NONE OF US COULD DO THIS!!
I’m thinking, hell lets all of us meet, get hammered/smashed drunk with drugs (plural, everyone can choose their own drugs) and drive down El Dorado County and see if any of us get 5 days jail (then not serve it), 4 yrs probation, 2k fine. Oh, don’t forget we get the drug charges dropped and oh…. the drunk driving gets reduced to a MISDEAMOR.
THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED!!!
I believe a DUI is costing around $10000 if not more with attorney fees, a suspended license, DUI school, etc. for us regular folks. This guy is connected and will get a slap on his wrist, tho he seems like he has a drinking and drug problem, but he will walk to lead your children in academics.
Yeah a real fine example of a true role model, nice job and a way to go, he will get a raise and climb the latter.
All speculation let’s see what actually happens then comment.
He needs to be fired before he resigns and goes on to another job. His credentials should be revoked. As a school leader he should be above this. No class.
I agree with Slapshot let’s wait to see what actually happens. As usual a lot of drama on here!
I’m finding myself agreeing with Alan Smithee, and (gulp)Justice here. It’s one thing to ‘make an innocent mistake’ but to willingly put people at risk is another. Also, given the timing of the reporting of this(booked on August 22, but arrested on June 9th), the limpid facts, the weak description of his BAC, the reduction of charges and his being released to his’wife and friend’, it appears to be whitewashed. I agree that people are not perfect and we should not expect them to be. I am not perfect, and am very grateful that the indiscretions of my younger years did not result in my injuring or damaging anyone, or in my getting arrested. If he was out making an ass of himself in public I wouldn’t care. But he was driving a potentially deadly weapon while fucked up, which means he either hasn’t learned or doesn’t care. THAT concerns me.
Sad…bad example…public figure…hipocracy…needs to walk away….did not walk the talk…not the right face for our Co Schools!
I just learned there was a civil trial against EDCOE which started June 9, 2015, same day Jeremy Meyers, Superintendent for EDCOE, was driving drunk with drugs! Mr. Superintendent Meyers was suppose to testify at this trial. It’s a real suspicious thing that his booking got postponed for over 2 months, avoided media attention, all exposure. Was this so Mr. Superintendent Meyers could hide his hideous, intentional, drunken, druggie behavior from being exposed during this trail?? Wow, Mr. Superintendent Meyers IS NOT ABOVE THE LAW! Just remember it was a WEEKDAY, at 2:45pm, on June 9, 2015 when Jeremy Meyers was drunk driving with drugs (plural), two different types of illegal substances. All of this is not assumptions, or make believe, this is the facts! What a great thing for our kids to see, Mr. Superintendent drunk driving, having drugs and he still gets to be the top dog for all those schools, teachers, students, total control! However, Mr. Meyers can’t even control himself. I wonder if he is getting drugged up, drunk every afternoon, during school hours? How would anybody know if he is?
Wow Justn@ss, caste the first stone! On the bright side, Meyers might be President of the United States one day… you know… like your GW Bush dolly. Bush was arrested for DUI and he has never answered questions about is Cocaine use, so who knows.
Thank you Concerned Persons for pointing out that this was a regular work day at 2:45 pm. I think this info was missing on the LTN and Tahoe Tribune site but I think it was included in the Sac bee’s report. I’m not saying that drunk driving is okay at 10 pm on a Saturday because it is not….but it is different being drunk when you are officially “on the clock”. This is far and above the biggest issue in this story. We are not talking about someone who made a bad decision late on a Saturday night we are talking about someone who was driving drunk while on the clock working as the highest paid person in our county office of education. I wonder if LTN can disclose his salary? It is a shame for the good, hard working people at the school district because most all of the people I know that work for EDCOE are awesome, hard working folks who are doing it because they care about the kids.
TP; Am having trouble finding an answer to your question on salary but this is from the Auburn Journal newspaper dated Sept 27, 2010 on Ms. Barber who was replaced by Mr. Meyers. I doubt that the salary has gone down in five years but this is somewhat of a comparison. “In El Dorado County, Superintendent Vicki Barber makes $172,515 as well as an annual $7,600 travel and expense stipend. Deputy Superintendent Terena Mendonca makes $142,184 as well as an annual $6,000 travel and expense stipend. El Dorado County has 15 districts and two charter schools operating under it. The population of El Dorado County is about 178,447.” Hope this answers your question somewhat.
Since the mob is in such a frenzy about Mr Meyers DUI, thought they might sharpen the pitchforks for:
Keifer Sutherland
Mike Tyson
Mel Gibson
Tim Allen
Randy Travis
Charles Barkley
Jason Kidd
Marshawn Lynch
Aldon Smith
Carlton Fisk
Tony La Russa
Paris Hilton
and
Wynonna Judd
Am I “pro” DUI, of course not. I just wanted to add a little more perspective to alcohol related problems. And, I’ll bet all of these people made way more money then Jeremy Meyers when they were arrested.
EDCOE is as corrupt and the districts it is supposed to be supporting. A taxpayer blackhole of worst sorts. Protecting and promoting friends without regard to merit. They tried to bury this like Buckeye tried to bury middle school kids being recorded by an unauthorized adult inside the classroom. The district still hasn’t told the parents of the kids that there could be illegal possession of unauthorized recordings of them.
rock4tahoe…the people you mention have nothing close to do with a county superintendent of schools responsibilities. Very poor try.
DB wants more DUI’s with “responsibility,” that’s easy:
Trish Groe (Arizona State Rep)
Marv Teixeira (Carson City Mayor)
Mike Kinnear (Mayor from Oklahoma)
John Trebilcock (Oklahoma State Rep)
Mike Gruitza (Pennsylvania State Rep)
Lee Constantine (Florida State Senate)
Kevin Brady (Congressman from Texas)
and there are many more elected officials.
Would you like to examine Boats, Trains and Airplanes too?
I understand that DUI’s happen to all sorts of people in all walks of life. However, that doesn’t mean I have to allow my children to be influenced by alcoholic drug addicts right in their own school. As tax payers we can decide what influences our children. We don’t have control over other states or counties for that matter but we have control over what happens in OUR COUNTY! I don’t want my child to be in a school where alcoholic, drug addicts are roaming the hallways! I’m not there to protect them at school that is what the people, like Jeremey Meyers, is suppose to be doing, instead of getting drunk, drug using during school work days. I’m understanding that Mr. Meyers had a board meeting the morning on the day he was arrested, oh sorry I mean the day he was caught!! Look at EDCOE’s meetings on their website. Jeremy Meyers was working when this all happened, he was on school time, OUR KIDS TIME! There is your airplane!
DB/Person, Caste the first stone at Mr. Meyers then, I don’t care.
I personally have been out of Grade School and College for quite some time now. However, I do remember students as early as my 7th Grade class bringing booze taken from their Parents liquor cabinet to school and getting drunk… and smokes of course.
And yes, there are a large number of documented cases of Pilots flying while drunk in the cockpit; Miller Time indeed.
Lynch mob central. Get off your self-righteous high horses and quit casting stones, especially the ones aimed toward his paycheck. You, the ones who love to see successful and hardworking people fail. How pathetic and without compassion are you? We all make mistakes; some of you guys no doubt have had one drink or maybe two and then driven home from where? Scusa? Harrahs? Oktoberfest at Camp Rich? I work for Jeremy Meyers; he is a great boss. I will wait until the facts are known before I cast judgement, if I cast it at all.
Why the support for a pill popping drunk? He is charged with providing quality education and has failed miserably. I don’t want my children anywhere near this low life. This incident happened during school hours. So he is wandering the halls drunk and gets in his car. Fine example, he has to go.
“Why the support for a pill popping drunk?”
Arod, I haven’t seen one person mention Rush Limbaugh in their comments.
Isn’t that who you were referring to?