Many teens throughout the country experiment with alcohol at some point before they have reached the legal drinking age. This typically happens at unsupervised parties or at the minor's home when no adults are present. But imagine for a moment that the person supplying the alcohol is the teen's high school teacher. This is allegedly what happened to one Florida teen who was recently arrested on DUI charges.

The male high school student claims that his female teacher supplied alcohol to him and a friend, another high school student, at her home. The teacher allegedly had a romantic interest in the young man's friend. After drinking heavily, the teen reportedly got into the teacher's SUV and started driving down the highway.

It wasn't long before the teen defendant lost control of the vehicle and caused a three-car crash. The teen was arrested for drunk driving but pleaded to the lesser charge of reckless driving involving alcohol in exchange for 12 months of probation. However, he recently violated the terms of his probation and was required to serve time in jail as a result.

In an interesting twist, the high school student has brought a civil lawsuit against the school board that employed the teacher. The student alleged that the school board played a role in his DUI and subsequent arrest by employing a teacher who they had reason to believe was endangering students. The teacher was suspended the day after the boy's DUI arrest and resigned shortly thereafter. She was sentenced to 30 days in jail after pleading no contest to supplying alcohol to a minor.

The only question that remains is whether the school board should be held responsible for the actions of the teacher and the student.

Source

Orlando Sentinel: "Oviedo High drinker, driver sues school district," Rene Stutzman, 10 Jul. 2011