An Anaheim police officer resigned from his job after he was arrested for the third time for DUI with prescription drugs. Kevin Noel Schlueter, 37, pleaded not guilty to the first charge, which dates back about a year. The Orange County Register reported March 24 that two others were filed this week and last week, making them too recent for a plea. Each is a misdemeanor count of driving under the influence of prescription drugs. Schlueter was on unpaid administrative leave for about a year, but was placed on paid leave in November. After the Orange County Register reported on the situation earlier this month, the Anaheim Police Department said it would expedite its internal investigation into the matters. Schlueter resigned March 23.
Schlueter is not accused of causing any serious accidents or hurting anyone other than himself. In the first DUI arrest, which took place March 18, 2009, motorists on the 405 called 911 to report a possible drunk driver on the highway. A CHP officer was dispatched to wait for the vehicle, which almost weaved into the patrol car before the officer pulled it over. In the second incident, which took place Jan. 21 of this year, Schlueter is accused of being under the influence when he crashed his car through a backyard fence in Huntington Beach. Finally, on March 2, Schlueter allegedly crashed into three parked cars in his own street in Costa Mesa before reversing and crashing into a fourth. Personnel from an ambulance company across the street put him in the back of an ambulance to wait for police. In all of the cases, he is accused of being under the influence of various painkillers, stimulants, muscle relaxants and tranquilizers.
The articles don't mention any charges against Schlueter for possessing these substances illegally, so we'll assume he had legal prescriptions for them. In our experience as Redondo Beach intoxicated driving defense attorneys, many people don't realize that it's possible to be charged with a DUI for taking drugs that were legally prescribed to them. But in the case of prescription drug intoxication, California law requires only that prosecutors prove that the driver was under the influence of a drug (or a drug in combination with alcohol). That means you can be charged with any amount of a drug in your system, including a drug your doctor gave you. As Fullerton DUI criminal defense lawyers, we cannot overemphasize the importance of making sure any prescription drug that might impair you is completely out of your system before you get behind the wheel.
At Howard Law, P.C., we represent clients who are charged with driving under the influence of drugs in California, as well as alcohol DUIs. In some DUI drug cases, our clients had no idea they had done something illegal, and some may not have even realized their prescription drugs were dangerous. Nonetheless, they are charged with the same crimes charged against people who drive after numerous drinks or use of an illegal street drug. Our Colton drunk driving criminal defense lawyers help clients protect their riving privileges and criminal records from the harsh consequences of what was, for many, a terrible mistake. In addition to mounting a strong defense whenever the evidence allows it, we can help clients contest the suspension of their driver's licenses, an essential part of any defense here in southern California.
Howard Law, P.C. offers free, confidential case evaluations, so there's no risk in speaking to us about your rights and your legal options. To set up a meeting, call us toll-free at 1-800-872-5925 or send us a message online.
