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Hernando Teacher's DUI Stop Nets Drug Charges

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By Kyle Martin of Hernando Today

Published: November 13, 2007

BROOKSVILLE - A Powell Middle School teacher protested just before his arrest on a DUI charge that "everybody drinks and drives" and asked the deputy why he was giving him "such a hard time," according to a report.

Jesse Mockler, 29, also was charged with trafficking in drugs and possession of a drug without a prescription after a deputy found 15 prescription pills in Mockler's 2004 Suzuki about 3:30 a.m. Saturday, authorities said.

A report identifies the pills as the painkiller Roxicet and a muscle relaxant, Flexeril.

Mockler was pulled over on Cortez Boulevard near Brooksville Regional Hospital after he was spotted driving under the speed limit and weaving out of his lane, according to a report.

A traffic deputy who served as backup reported that Mockler showed "extreme signs of impairment," including slurred speech and droopy eyes.

Mockler leaned against his car to keep his balance as he told authorities he had just left a friend's house after drinking four beers, Deputy Lance Origon said.

On the way to jail, Mockler pleaded with Origon to let him go on the grounds that he would lose his job, the deputy said. He later changed tactics and said he it didn't matter what he was charged with because he had a good lawyer, a report states.

Deputy Donna Black, spokeswoman for the sheriff's office, confirmed that Mockler is a teacher at Powell Middle School.

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