Columbus High School Assistant Principal Jill Savely has appealed a guilty conviction on a misdemeanor charge of drunk driving.
Savely, 42, of 2007 Choctaw Road in Columbus, was arrested Oct. 2 by Lowndes County sheriff”s deputies on Highway 182 at Baker Drive.
She was initially stopped for speeding in her white 2003 Chevrolet Suburban at 6:46 p.m., said Lowndes County Sheriff”s Office Chief Deputy Greg Wright. The deputy asked her to perform field sobriety tests, which she failed.
Savely, who was named Columbus Municipal School District”s Administrator of the Year in 2009 and is one of four assistant principals at Columbus High, also failed a breathalyzer test at the Lowndes County jail, Wright said.
She was found guilty of speeding, careless driving and DUI, first offense, on Dec. 8, by District 1 Justice Court Judge Peggy Phillips.
Lowndes County Court Judge Beverly Franklin will hear Savely”s appeal, which has yet to be scheduled.
If her appeal is denied, Savely could have her license suspended for up to 60 days, be required to take alcohol responsibility classes and be placed on probation for up to six months.
Savely declined to comment before speaking to her attorney except to say that there was “no update” on the case.
She did not return calls seeking additional comments by press time.
Columbus schools” spokeswoman, Janet Lewis, said she had not heard of the charges before Tuesday and declined to comment on the case until she had more information.
Superintendent Del Phillips did not return calls by press time.
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