| For Immediate Release Case # 10WM02208, 10WM0267, 19WM08243
April 28, 2010 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Public Affairs Counsel Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami |
OFF-DUTY POLICE OFFICER SENTENCED IN THREE SEPARATE CASES FOR DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS
WESTMINSTER – A police officer was convicted today in three separate cases for driving under the influence of prescription drugs. The defendant is an officer with the Anaheim Police Department and all three incidents occurred while he was off-duty and in his personal vehicle. Kevin Noel Schlueter, 37, Costa Mesa, pleaded guilty to a court offer to three misdemeanor counts of driving under the influence of drugs, one for each of his three cases. He was sentenced by the court to 10 months in jail, six of which are to be served in a residential drug treatment facility. He was also sentenced to five years of informal probation and a multiple-offender alcohol program. The People advocated for a sentence of one year in jail.
Case # 09WM08243
At approximately 9:30 p.m. on March 18, 2009, Schlueter was driving erratically and weaving through lanes on Interstate 405 near Westminster Boulevard while under the influence of drugs. A witness called 9-1-1. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) responded and entered onto the freeway ahead of Schlueter as the defendant approached from behind. The defendant nearly crashed into other cars on the road, including the marked CHP patrol vehicle.
When officers pulled Schlueter over, the defendant displayed objective signs of drug intoxication including shaking hands, red and watery eyes, slurred speech, and appeared lethargic. Schlueter was under the influence of prescription drugs that impaired his ability to drive including hydrocodone, hydromorphone, phenmetrazine, phendimetrazine, and carisoprodol.
He was arrested and later released and given a date to appear for arraignment. He was charged by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office (OCDA) Sept. 1, 2009, with one misdemeanor count of driving under the influence of drugs.
Case # 10WM02627
At approximately 9:30 p.m. on Jan. 21, 2010, Schlueter was driving on Oakridge Lane in Huntington Beach while impaired and under the influence of drugs. He crashed his car through the backyard fence of a residence and remained in the driver’s seat with the engine running until Huntington Beach police officers arrived at the scene.
Schlueter displayed objective signs of drug intoxication including slurred speech, a lack of coordination, and a lack of balance. He was under the influence of prescription drugs that impaired his ability to drive including hydrocodone, hydromorphone, meprobamate, and carisoprodol.
Schlueter was arrested and later released and given a date to appear for arraignment. He was charged by the OCDA March 19, 2010, with one misdemeanor count of driving under the influence of drugs.