KINGMAN – Deputy Mohave County School Superintendent Craig McKee was taken into custody Tuesday after a judge ordered a six-month jail sentence in his drunk driving case. Judge Doug Camacho ruled that the 59-year-old Kingman man is eligible for work release, requiring night time and weekend lock up while allowing him to spend daytime hours working on the third floor of the county administration building.
McKee pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated assault and driving under the influence for injuring two men when his vehicle crashed into theirs in west Kingman last November. Prosecutor James Schoppmann said the victims suffered substantial and significant injuries, but they did not support a prison sentence and favored probation and jail for McKee.
One of his daughters, five-decade-long close friend Matthew Capalby and County School Superintendent John Warren spoke on behalf of the defendant. They said he is a well respected grandfather, father, and husband who had a stellar reputation for being honorable, ethical and accountable at work and in the community.
“He is an incredible man,” said daughter Victoria McKee. “He made a grave mistake and he’s very, very sorry, as we all are.”
Warren said McKee was a consummate professional, supremely competent and well respected throughout the local education arena.
“100 percent of the people I interface with, 100 percent of them are very supportive of Craig. They appreciate his customer service and his commitment to the school districts,” Warren said. “If we maintain him as an employee there will be some stipulations. He’ll have to go through a mandatory alcohol counseling program.”
Capably told the Court that McKee is more valuable to the community than any purpose or message served by confinement.
“Incarceration would be a punishment to the people,” he said. “Craig is a dedicated, committed public servant. He has without a doubt demonstrated that over 30 years.”
Schoppmann noted McKee had a previous DUI arrest in 2013. Schoppmann noted the Kingman community has suffered loss through DUI traffic accidents, resulting in prosecution of students attending schools within the districts McKee oversees.
“What the state is asking is that the Court treat him like other people, including younger people and students that harm people when they drink and drive,” Schoppmann said.
McKee apologized to his two traffic accident victims who attended his sentencing hearing. He said he quit drinking after his first DUI a dozen years ago before returning to alcohol about three years ago.
“It started out socially and then it got away from me,” McKee told Judge Doug Camacho. “I started to hide it and then this happened.”
Mckee expressed remorse as he fielded questions from his attorney.
“I made a terrible mistake. It is outside my character. I will have continued hate and disappointment for myself for what I did to these people,” Mckee told the judge. “I’m hopeful that I can continue my job so that I might move on with things, pay these people back and earn my way back into society.”
McKee’s daytime work release, night time lock up environment will extend to about Thanksgiving. He’ll be on probation for four years once he completes his 180-day jail sentence.
Dave Hawkins
