By
Rachael Myer
Arizona Daily Wildcat
UA dean admits sophomore shouldn't have been arrested after completing diversion program
A UA sophomore was falsely booked into Pima County Jail on Tuesday after a mix-up indicated she had not completed a UA diversion program.
Sophomore Margie Stultz was handcuffed and taken to jail after a University of Arizona Police Department background check showed a warrant for her arrest. The warrant, however, should not have been issued in the first place, said Veda Hunn, UA associate dean of students, who oversees the Misdemeanors Diversion Program.
"There shouldn't have been a reason for her arrest," Hunn said yesterday.
Stultz, a Spanish studies major, was driving east on East Speedway Boulevard at about 11:30 p.m., admittedly speeding, when she was pulled over by a UAPD officer.
The officer was going to release her without citing her for speeding, Stultz said, but after checking her record, the officer arrested her.
An outstanding warrant for not completing the UA Misdemeanors Diversion Program was on her record, even though she had completed the program.
Stultz received a minor in possession of alcohol charge in October and completed the diversion program in February, which should have removed the charge from her record.
A letter stating that Stultz had completed all of the requirements of the program was sent from the UA to the Pima County Justice Courts on March 1, said Alexis Hernandez, a UA associate dean of students
In the letter, Hunn said, "Please be advised that (Stultz) has successfully completed The University of Arizona Misdemeanors Diversion Program. The Dean of Students office recommends that the pending charges be dismissed."
Even though the letter was sent, it was not cleared and a nationwide warrant for her arrest was issued on March 15, Stultz said. When students do not complete the diversion program, an arrest warrant can be placed for the person nationwide, Hernandez said.
Where the glitch took place is still unclear, but the Dean of Students office is working with the justice courts to help Stultz with the matter, Hunn said.
Hernandez said he was also unsure what caused the glitch.
"For whatever reason, the justice court put out a warrant for her arrest," he said.
Stultz said it cost her $192 to bail herself out of jail and she didn't get home until about 4 a.m.
"The fact of the matter is I had a false warrant out for my arrest," Stultz said.
She hopes to clear up the situation with a judge when she goes to court Monday for an unrelated traffic violation that occurred in April.
