Crime & Safety

UPDATE: Stone Hill Sub Charged with Drunk in Public

Teaching assistant never came into contact with students, who were back for first day of classes.

A woman serving as a substitute teacher at in Ashburn has been charged with drunk in public at the school.

A person working at the school told a Loudoun County Sheriff's Office school resource officer that a substitute teaching assistant appeared to be intoxicated when she arrived about 9:06 a.m. Aug. 27, the first day of classes, according to the sheriff's office. As a result, a deputy charged Jacqueline J. Barnes, 50, of Aldie, with drunk in public.

Substitute teachers generally are on call, but not aware they’ll be working until the school system contacts them.

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“She was called that morning,” Wayde Byard, spokesman for Loudoun County Public Schools.

As a teaching assistant, students would never have been under Barnes’ charge, Byard said. Byard and LCSO spokeswoman Liz Mills both said Barnes did not make contact with students.

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“She was on her way into school when she came into contact with school personnel,” Mills said.

The situation was handled quietly, according to Byard.

“She was taken from the school discreetly after school started,” he said, adding that a Breathalyzer was administered.

He said substitute teachers are at-will employees without contracts and may be dropped from consideration at the school system’s discretion. He could not respond to the specific case, but said serious offenses usually result in being dropped.

Barnes has been with the school system since March, Byard said. Substitutes face the same scrutiny and background checks as regular teachers, Byard said.

Mills said Barnes was released on a personal recognizance bond and faces a fine of up to $250, plus court costs.

The previous information was supplied by the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office and, where charges were made, does not indicate a conviction. For questions about this article, email dusty@patch.com.


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