Crime & Public Safety
CMS Cabinet Member Arrested in Mecklenburg County DWI Checkpoint Stop
A member of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools cabinet was arrested in Mecklenburg County after a license and safety checkpoint stop on Idlewild Road near I-485. Court records show 46-year-old Stephen Jeffrey Esposito was taken into custody on Sept. 24 and charged with driving while impaired.
According to an arrest affidavit, officers stopped Esposito around 10:30 p.m. at the checkpoint. The affidavit alleges he “emitted a strong odor of alcohol and had red glassy eyes,” and that he “admitted to consuming alcohol recently.” The document says he “performed poorly” on field sobriety tests, that two portable breath test samples were taken, and that he was escorted to a state breath alcohol testing bus.
Records indicate the breath test returned a 0.11 blood-alcohol concentration, above the legal limit of 0.08. Esposito was released from the Mecklenburg County jail the following morning. Court records and public listings identify him as the district’s chief of strategic communications and engagement; Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools told reporters it was aware of an arrest involving a district employee.
Esposito’s arrest occurred amid a period of high-level turnover at the school district: it came two days after the school board voted to terminate the superintendent and was followed by additional board leadership changes. At this time the record reflects charges filed and a release from custody; further case status details are from official court records when available.
All individuals accused of a crime are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
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All individuals mentioned in criminal allegations are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.