By KAREN VELIE
Santa Margarita Elementary School Principal Melanie Karp has been sentenced to two days in the county jail and three years probation for driving under the influence of alcohol.
Commissioner Stephen B. Sefton also levied a fine of $1,726 and ordered the school official to attend alcohol abuse classes after she pled no contest to a drunk-driving charge.
Atascadero police arrested Karp April 12. Her blood alcohol was .12, one and a half times the legal limit.
Karp was slated to begin serving her sentence at the San Luis Obispo County Jail September 16 at 7 p.m. In exchange for jail time, she was admitted into the Alternative Work Program, wherein eight hours of community service substitute for 24 hours in jail.
A few years ago, parents said they witnessed Karp plow into a car in the school parking lot, park, and then head back into her office without leaving a note on the car she damaged. According to sources, Karp apologized and paid for damages after being confronted. Witnesses to that incident agreed not to inform authorities.
Karp did not return requests for comment.
