Newfield High School Principal Patrick V. Mahunik was apprehended by the New York State Police on a misdemeanor charge of aggravated driving while intoxicated in Ithaca on Wednesday morning, according to state police.
The arrest occurred after a trooper observed Mahunik’s vehicle failing to maintain its lane on Elmira Road.
State Police reported that upon interview, Mahunik exhibited signs of alcohol impairment and performed poorly on Standardized Field Sobriety Tests.
The 48-year-old Auburn resident was taken to NYSP’s Ithaca barracks, where his blood alcohol content (BAC) was measured at .20%, exceeding New York State’s legal limit.
Prior to the arrest, reports suggest that Mahunik appeared intoxicated on school district property and was confronted before leaving in his vehicle.
This incident came in the wake of previous concerns about his behavior on school premises, allegedly due to personal struggles after a concussion-related injury. Mahunik, a former Dryden High School principal, is due to appear in Ithaca City Court on July 5th.
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