Beth-Center superintendent waives DUI case to court
The superintendent of the Bethlehem-Center School District will be treated no differently than any other person charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, and she likely will be entered into the accelerated rehabilitation program for first offenders, her attorney said Feb. 9.
Linda M. Marcolini, 55, will see her case move to Allegheny County Court after she waived her right to a preliminary hearing before District Judge Maureen McGraw-Desmet in South Fayette Township.
The court will treat Marcolini the same as it does to “the Steelers, doctors, lawyers and public offenders” who are charged with DUI, her attorney, Charles Porter, said after her court appearance.
“I don’t see where this has anything to do with the school,” he said.
Marcolini, 55, of Northridge Drive in South Fayette, took a few weeks off with pay after her Dec. 12 arrest became public in mid-January, said Chad Novotney, president of the Beth-Center School Board.
“We are aware of the situation,” Novotney said. “We’re monitoring it. There is a court process she has to go through.”
Marcolini was arrested after her vehicle collided with another about 6:30 p.m. Dec. 12 on Oakridge Road, South Fayette, court records state. Police accused her of having blood-alcohol count of .174, more than double the 0.08 state limit.
Police said she told different stories about how the accident occurred, eventually admitting to having two glasses of wine and was attempting to make a phone call when she lost control of her vehicle.
Marcolini is free on unsecured bond. A charge of reckless driving was withdrawn from her case Feb. 9.
She declined to comment to reporters after leaving court.