Administrator arrested on DWI

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Deanna Coronado

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports that Kennett School District's Assistant Superintendent Christopher L. Wilson, 36, was recently found driving while intoxicated.

The report was confirmed with a member of the Missouri State Highway Patrol's Troop E Headquarters, who told the Daily Dunklin Democrat that Cpl. M.L. Scoggins reported making a traffic stop in Dunklin County on Wilson, of Holcomb, Mo., at approximately 11:59 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 21.

The spokesperson stated that Scoggins' report indicated that during the traffic stop, Scoggins found Wilson to be driving while intoxicated, a misdemeanor and bondable offense.

Chris Wilson

Public information was not available via www.case.net, a Web site allowing individuals access to the Missouri State Courts Automated Case Management System.

The Dunklin County Prosecutor's office was contacted on both Tuesday and Wednesday in regards to the arrest report, official charges and additional details into the case, but provided no immediate comment.

"Right now we can't comment," Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Jonce Chidister said on Tuesday.

The school district's Superintendent Jerry Noble was also contacted on Wednesday morning regarding the issue. Noble was questioned of a possible suspension of the assistant administrator, as a result of the incident.

He also declined to comment, adding, "It's a personnel matter."

Comments

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I am interested in the obvious double standard of the Daily Dunklin Democrat. When Mr. Ed was arrested for a DWI the DDD plastered his face on the front page immediately. Also, if I remember correctly, it was his mug shot that was plastered. So I am curious as to why Chris Wilson got to choose a much more flattering picture of himself for his article, that the DDD only printed in response to the numerous complaints.

I also know that the DDD cannot deal with anyone who's opinion varies slightly than theirs, so I can almost guarantee that within moments this post will be removed from the website. But I will rest in the fact that someone from the DDD read it and knows that the citizens of Kennett are not happy with the direction this paper has taken.

Thank you.

-- Posted by Curious_George on Thu, Feb 26, 2009, at 4:52 PM

IN RESPONSE TO THE COMMENT MADE BY CURIOUS GEORGE ABOUT CHRIS WILSON ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDANT BEING STOPPED BY MO. STATE HIGHWAY PATROL FOR DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED; CURIOUS GEORRGE, HOW LONG HAVE YOU LIVED AROUND KENNETT? DON'T YOU KNOW BY NOW IT'S WHO YOU ARE THAT WARRANTS WHAT YOU GET AWAY WITH AND HOW YOU ARE TREATED WHEN WHAT YOU DO IS OUT OF CHARACTER? IT'S ALL ABOUT WHAT YOUR LAST NAME IS,

HOW UP-ITY YOU ARE, WHAT KIND OF CAR/TRUCK YOU DRIVE, WHAT PART OF TOWN YOU LIVE IN, OH, AND MOST IMPORTANT WHO YOU KNOW, AND WHO YOU CALL TO GET YOU OUT OF A MESS. KEEP THINGS ALL QUIET AND SMOOTHED OVER. SHOULD I SAY MORE?

-- Posted by gotcha on Thu, Feb 26, 2009, at 7:39 PM

Curious George:

How do you know they only printed this story "in response to the numerous complaints" and what makes you think he chose this photo himself?

Maybe this was a photo they had on file. And maybe the information they printed was done so when it became available to them.

And to Gotcha:

You say that "it's all about what your last name is" I understand WHAT you mean, but don't necessarily understand WHY you think it applies in this situation?

-- Posted by spellchecker on Thu, Feb 26, 2009, at 8:10 PM

Is this over for Mr. Wilson since he took leave on his own or does he still have to face the BOE.

I have heard rumors that this was a set up, sorry folks even for this part of the country I think it would be hard to set-up someone, and why would they want to. My next question is why it took the DDD to report something of this nature on Thursday when it happened Saturday night they did not extend this opportuity to Mr. ED also, they did not print such a nice piture of Mr. Ed when he was on the front page news and not just a byline.

No matter the person or position they hold should have any effect on the way the story is reported.

-- Posted by bassman82 on Thu, Feb 26, 2009, at 9:03 PM

Today, 2 beers can put you in records as a DWI.

Chris Wilson is a fine young man who has had a rough life in many aspects, but overcame it.

He has recently also had some upsets and family losses that could devastate many people. I believe in Chris Wilson and I do not believe in gossip mongering people who don't know the person nor the true facts.

This young man's name is not what would get him any vindication, but his morals and his love for church and family, would.

-- Posted by ed8ggr3 on Fri, Feb 27, 2009, at 8:24 AM

The Mr. Ed story is so much more compelling than this one, I can see why it is covered differently, plus, the picture question?......you can only work with what you got.

I always thought it amazing when Mr. Ed could talk. When I heard he was driving and then driving under the influence...I mean wow.....all of this by a horse...of course.

-- Posted by gobler on Fri, Feb 27, 2009, at 1:49 PM

Its great how people can make up all kinds of stories and excuses about why one may commit a specific offense. The law states not to drink and drive. I do not recall seeing any type of attachments or amendments stating its okay to drink and drive if you came from a hard life and recently had some unfortunate events take place in your life. He like many, many other members of faculty and staff in Kennett Public Schools needs to be replaced. Yes replaced. I attended public school there several years ago along with ALL of my family members and Kennett Public Schools have been in disarray since before 1969 when my mother attended. Oh yeah back on the subject at hand this man needs to be employed at Wal-Mart not the Superintendents office. This is a sad situation that will never end until the PEOPLE make a stand. Oh yeah you believe in this guy you may as well believe in unicorns or big foot.

-- Posted by kellshorn on Fri, Feb 27, 2009, at 2:22 PM

I know Chris Wilson look he is still

young man so u look at your self and say u never did noting wrong wut he did i will have to pay for it and y take his job and i still like him......

-- Posted by andy97 on Fri, Feb 27, 2009, at 2:31 PM

-- Posted by kellshorn on Fri, Feb 27, 2009, at 2:31 PM

I am more concerned about the message being sent, if you are an administrator at Kennett School District, you are allowed to have a DWI and recieve paid leave. HMmmm. What would happen to a teacher? I assume the president has been set and the teacher would get a paid leave, or if non tenured...fired? DWI, DUI is still illegal. What happened to teacher s and administrators being role models?

-- Posted by cecil210 on Fri, Feb 27, 2009, at 2:37 PM

I would like to address some of the reader concerns that have been mentioned here. My reply will consist of only facts, not opinions on the matter. The only concrete information we were able to validate in this matter was the Missouri State Highway Patrol report itself, which was validated for accuracy and content with a spokesman from the department, and Cpl. M.L. Scoggins, himself. When we asked Scoggins to see the report and for details into the incident, we were referred to the Dunklin County Prosecutor. It is standard procedure for us to obtain such information and then follow-up by contacting the prosecutor's office, which we did, more than once. Each time we attempted to contact someone with this office, we stated why we were calling and that a news story was being written regarding the incident. In all fairness, a reporter should gather as much validated information as possible before writing a story of this nature, especially information regarding the filing of charges.

Without timely cooperation from the prosecutor regarding the issue of whether or not charges have been officially filed in the case, that leaves us as reporters very little room for immediate detail. Without official charges, we also do not have the option of running a "mug shot" or a related photograph. Instead, we are forced to work with what we have on file. In this case, that is exactly what we did. The only file photograph we possess of the person mentioned in this story was used because that is the only option we had. In terms of the comments I have heard regarding the brief statement made about the Web site CaseNET, again, if the prosecution is unwilling to make a timely comment on the case or provide answers to simple questions such as whether or not charges have been filed, if they will be filed, who will prosecute the case, etc., the person seeking such information doesn't have many options there either. In previous cases where the prosecution has commented and cooperated with us, which have been many times before, they also referred us to CaseNET, as it contains much of the information we consistently report. The point being made by listing CaseNET as a resource in the story, was not that we are lazy investigators, rather, that there is currently no record available indicating that the person has been charged, not from the prosecution itself, nor from the Missouri State Courts Automated Case Management System.

I cannot comment on the previously covered DWI incident involving another local administrator because a separate reporter at a different publication whom shared the information with us wrote the story. From my understanding of that incident, however, the situation itself was much different from this one, as local authorities, prosecutors, and the incarcerating agency immediately provided details into the arrest, charges, and provided a photo. That was not the case here.

-- Posted by deannacoronado on Fri, Feb 27, 2009, at 3:12 PM

There are so many people who are willing to throw stones. I am a former teacher and this man is human. Yes, he made a mistake, and I am sure that no one more than he is suffering for it.

If some of the Holier than thou's who are printing such garbage about him, would examine their own lives, or remember Jesus' comment to the crowd wanting to stone the adultress, he said, "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone." They all quietly left.

Only one was perfect here on earth, and the crucified Him.

This is bound to be a hard-hitting, hard learned lesson for Mr. Wilson. I do not doubt that he has no intention of this ever being repeated.

I taught for 30 years and taught with alcoholics, child beaters, and other problematic teachers and administrators. I also taught with wonderful caring loving people who did make occasional mistakes.

I am so glad that God doesn't look down and say hmmmmmmmmm big sin, little sin, etc. He see's sin and requires repentence. Please let the man alone.

Precedence is not being set, nor was it spelled correctly.

-- Posted by ed8ggr3 on Sat, Feb 28, 2009, at 12:53 PM

What happened to the other posts on this topic? I know that many have been removed (2 were mine). Seems that a community paper should post all comments on a subject as popular this one. What better way for a town to express its feelings exists than this forum.

-- Posted by KHS1964 on Tue, Mar 3, 2009, at 3:38 PM

Response by Deanna Coronado:

We have a policy regarding comments on the Web site. If a post is removed it is because the posting party did not comply with the policy.

Ms. Coronado;

My posts and those of the others were not in any way contrary to this site's policies. They were removed sometime on or after March 1st after their original posting date of Feb. 26th. I only wish that I had saved my comments(something that I will do from this point) on my local computer so they could be re-posted.

-- Posted by KHS1964 on Tue, Mar 3, 2009, at 7:31 PM

Let me guess, another one of KSD's $100k club? These school people really do set good examples for the students they are over.

-- Posted by kuhnighit on Wed, Mar 4, 2009, at 6:39 PM

Regarding Curious George and gotcha... both are right... REVOLT! REVOLT AGAINST THE TYRANNY AND LACK OF FIRST AMENDMENT. REVOLT AGAINST FAVORITISM TOWARDS PUBLIC OFFICIALS. REVOLT!!!

-- Posted by kuhnighit on Wed, Mar 4, 2009, at 6:45 PM

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