13 WTHRSchool superintendent arrested for OWI

School superintendent arrested for OWI

Kris Kirschner/Eyewitness News

Martinsville - The superintendent for Martinsville Schools faces jail time after he was arrested this weekend. Dr. Ron Furniss was pulled over on a county road just north of downtown Martinsville.

For eleven years, Ron Furniss has been superintendent of Martinsville Schools. After this weekend, the district is seeing another side to their top school official.

"It's a tough situation. We're going to try to get through this," said Randy Taylor, assistant superintendent of business for Martinsville Schools.

Furniss was arrested late Saturday while on his way home after a night visiting restaurants and clubs in both Broad Ripple and Plainfield. It was on a county road just north of downtown Martinsville where a deputy stopped him for speeding but soon found evidence of another crime.

"Charges were filed for operating a vehicle while intoxicated," said Steve Sonnega, Morgan County prosecutor.

The officer who pulled him over gave him three field sobriety tests, including walking a straight line heel to toe. According to police reports, Furniss failed all three.

The report goes on to say Furniss admitted to "having three glasses of wine" and that he "stopped drinking by 11:00 pm." But nearly two hours later, according to police, his blood alcohol level was .16, twice the legal limit.

Monday, the superintendent was back at work, but in a prepared statement offered an apology.

"I've embarrassed myself and even worse my family and friends," he said.

The Morgan County Prosecutor wouldn't talk specifically about this case, but said it underscores a growing problem in this community.

"Drugs and alcohol are our biggest problem in Morgan County," said Sonnega.

Until the legal process runs its course, school officials say Furniss will continue to report to work. Whether this case has any effect on his future with the school district is still unclear. 

School officials say once the legal process has taken its course, the school board will meet in executive session to determine what, if any, disciplinary action they'll take against Dr. Furniss.