Rebecca Diehl, the president of the South Kitsap School District board of directors, recently served a day of jail following her second DUI arrest in three years.
According to court documents, Diehl’s initial DUI conviction in 2016 resulted in her entering into a pretrial diversion agreement, the terms of which she later violated after being arrested in Pierce County for another DUI in April. Court documents stated that Diehl “subsequently provided two breath samples with [BAC] results: 0.156 / 0.161 and 0.145 / 0.150.”
Rebecca Diehl
On July 2, the City of Port Orchard filed to revoke Diehl’s pretrial diversion agreement and she was ordered to serve one day in jail, with 364 days of jail time suspended. Diehl also was required to obtain a state-certified chemical dependency evaluation within 30 days. She will also not be allowed to consume any alcohol or controlled substances as part of the court order.
“I am facing all of the consequences for a very, very bad decision,” Diehl said of the ordeal. “This has been a challenge, but it has also been a good thing in my life. I am better today as a result of these challenges and I am so thankful for that.”
While she did regard the incident as “embarrassing,” Diehl said she also viewed her punishment as having restorative qualities and commended members of law enforcement for their fairness and support throughout the process. Diehl said she had been particularly moved by the “victim panels” she had been required to attend, wherein family members of DUI crash victims spoke of the impact that driving under the influence can have on loved ones.
Of her night in jail served on July 18, Diehl said, “It was the right amount of awful, considering what I had done. I am paying the consequences, and there are many.”
When asked about the incident, Amy Miller, a spokeswoman for the South Kitsap School District, said, “Ms. Diehl was not serving in the capacity as a school board member when the incident occurred.”
Miller did not provide additional comment.
In addition to acting as the president of the South Kitsap School District board of directors, Diehl also serves as the District 4 director. Re-elected in 2017, her term will expire in 2021.
