Former Jackson athletic director found guilty of DWI, not guilty of marijuana possession

Kevin P. Bohnert, 48, former athletic director of Jackson High School, was found guilty Thursday of driving while intoxicated and failure to drive on the right half of the roadway, but not guilty on marijuana and drug paraphernalia possession charges.

Associate Circuit Judge Joe Z. Satterfield issued the ruling Thursday after a bench trial in Stoddard County on Sept. 19.

Bohnert was sentenced to six months in the county jail on the DWI count, according to a news release from the prosecuting attorney's office, but Satterfield imposed a suspended execution of sentence, meaning if he completes two years of probation successfully, he could avoid jail time. Satterfield also fined Bohnert $500 for the DWI and $200 for failure to drive on the right half of the roadway. Bohnert was arrested June 8 after a Missouri State Highway Patrol officer pulled him over for erratic driving on his way home from a rock concert in St. Louis. Bohnert failed a field sobriety test, according to a probable cause statement. A small amount of marijuana was found in his car, according to the statement.

At the bench trial, Bohnert's attorney argued the marijuana and pipe belonged to someone else. Bohnert testified that his car was parked outisde the concert and that his cooler was full of beer. He said several people, including some he did not know, came and sat in his car.

On June 26, Bohnert resigned as Jackson's athletic director after a nearly 13-year tenure.