'Teacher of the Year' Guilty Of DUI

A local Teacher of the Year accused of sex abuse and DUI admitted Wednesday that prosecutors could prove he tried to drive to school drunk, but he stopped short of pleading guilty.

Public records show Charles M. Lewis' blood alcohol level was .11 when he attempted to drive to a teacher work day at Causey Middle School on January 4. According to Alabama State Troopers, Lewis was involved in a wreck at 6:22 that morning at the intersection of CR 9 and CR 32 in Baldwin County.

Baldwin County District Court Judge Michelle Thomason assessed Lewis a $600 fine, sentenced him to 24 months probation and forbid him from going to bars or liquor stores.

Lewis' attorney, John Beck, said Lewis reserved his right to appeal the case within 14 days.

Meanwhile, Lewis also faces charges that he gave a 9 year old boy alcohol and sexually touched the child in his home in July 2009. The 6th grade science teacher was arrested on the charge in January after the boy's parents reported the incident to police. Sources tell News Five the child told his parents about the abuse after Lewis was arrested on the DUI charge.

After his arrest, parents at Causey Middle School came forward with more complaints against Lewis. In September 2009, a parent filed a complaint with the school principal after Lewis allegedly exposed himself to a student in his classroom. School Principal Mary Wood publicly denied receiving the complaint, but Mobile County School Superintendent Dr. Roy Nichols confirmed the report days later.

Nichols insists Lewis "inadvertently" exposed himself while changing out of a space camp costume, which he wore while teaching a science lesson. The school district did not report the incident to law enforcement, drawing criticism from Pat Guyton of Mobile County's Child Advocacy Center.

Lewis is on paid administrative leave from Causey Middle School.