Region 16 superintendent pleads guilty after Fla. arrest

The Regional School District 16 superintendent pleaded guilty to reckless driving in connection to an incident in which Florida police say he was driving while intoxicated.

A Daytona police officer stopped Michael Yamin, 54, on Sept. 3 at around 2:40 a.m. when he saw a 2018 Lincoln Utility weave in and out of the lane, at one point almost hitting a curb, according to the charging affidavit.

Yamin told the officer that he was coming from his father’s home down the block. The officer noted in the affidavit that Yamin allegedly “spoke with slurred speech” and, while trying to get out to the vehicle, “stumbled and tripped” and later “had difficulty maintaining his balance.”

In the affidavit, the officer wrote that Yamin told a sergeant that he knew he was driving under the influence. When asked to do field sobriety tests, Yamin refused multiple times and was taken into custody.

Yamin later agreed to take a breath test, registering his blood alcohol content at around 0.2, or more than double the 0.08 legal limit. Police issued Yamin two citations, one for failing to maintain his lane and the other for driving under the influence, according to the affidavit.

In the case, Yamin pleaded guilty to the reduced charge of reckless driving, a misdemeanor, on Jan. 20, court records from Volusia County show. In the guilty plea, Yamin will be on probation for six months, which could be terminated early at the completion of all the other conditions, and subject to an alcohol safety education course, 50 hours of community service, fees and other conditions, court document state.

The failure to maintain charge was dismissed, according to court records.

According to WFSB, Yamin sent a letter to the school community on Thursday addressing the incident. He said he was visiting his father in Florida to assist with his medical care when the incident occurred.

In the letter, Yamin apologized for the lapse in judgment and recognized the conduct reflected poorly on the region. He wrote he has been the superintendent for eight years and will “work tirelessly to regain the trust of our staff and our school community,” WFSB reported.

The district includes Prospect and Beacon Falls.

Yamin could not be reached for comment Thursday night.