Seabrook, NEW HAMPSHIRE

Arrested again, sentenced to jail again.

July 9, 2007 - Holly Spreen, 34, a special education teacher, was arrested for breach of bail and child endangerment. She was arrested after dropping and dragging her two-year-old son aboard a harbor cruise ship.

Her blood alcohol level was .49, six times the legal limit. Witnesses who saw her drop and drag the child reported their concerns to ship management who notified police.

Public record shows Spreen was arrested in Portsmouth on Dec. 18, 2005 for domestic assault and obstruction of the report of a crime. She was also charged with simple assault by Portsmouth Police on June 29, 2007.

Trial is set for August 14.

July 21 - Long, largely unsympathetic, article on Spreen's history of alcoholism which sparked this comment from a poster:

If the father in this case were the one drinking he would have lost all rights to see the kid by now. Instead, "Marital Master Harriet Fishman" chose to leave this child in harms way over and over again. How about someone do something about getting this "Marital Master" out of her position of responsiblility and authority and into one where her sexist views can't hurt an innocent child. Fire her outright is my position, but I know the bleeding hearts would never allow such a harsh action....

TT - What we wonder is, with all the frequent arrests and court appearances and hospitalizations, why a school district would not fire her outright? She's a special education teacher who works with the most vulnerable children.

GUILTY PLEA & SENTENCING Nov 5 - Spreen pleaded guilty to charges of reckless conduct and simple assault. In exchange for those pleas, Spreen was sentenced to two years in jail, with all but 30 days suspended pending two years of good behavior. She'll serve her sentence during summer vacation.

She told the judge she would be returning to school Nov 14.

Portsmouth Family Court records show Spreen’s former husband warned the court that he feared for their son’s safety “due to her alcoholism” as far back as February 2005, when the child was 3 months old. Just 13 days before her arrest, he warned the court she had been drunk in a car with their son before a police officer intervened.

Also documented in the family court is Spreen’s voluntary and involuntary alcohol treatment, hidden liquor bottles, hospitalization and court-ordered Breathalyzer tests related to visitation with her son, some taken on the job at the Seabrook school.
After her arrest, Spreen lost all custody of her son. That order is temporary.

The judge noted a letter of proof of Spreen’s enrollment in a Florida rehab program described her “prognosis” as “only fair.”

Jan 17, 2008 - Spreen is limited to visits with her son to one hour a week. She is on administrative leave for an indefinite period, following two months of time off under the Family Medical Leave Act.

Prosecutor Corey MacDonald told the Herald that Spreen’s deferred jail sentence will not likely be altered, in spite of her no longer working a school schedule. He agreed to it, he said, in an effort to assist Spreen with keeping her teaching job and therefore maintaining sobriety.

TT - Those lucky kids.

SENTENCED (AGAIN) April 1 - Spreen sentenced to 27 days in jail after a probation officer reported her Easter Sunday arrest for driving while intoxicated. She was arrested on March 23, when her blood alcohol content was recorded at .33 and she told an officer she drank a bottle of wine "throughout the day." At the time of her arrest, Spreen, a former Seabrook elementary school teacher, was court-ordered to abstain from all use of alcohol and to remain arrest-free. A hearing to review the case is scheduled for April 8

She since lost her Seabrook teaching job.

SENTENCED TO JAIL April 8 - Spreen was sentenced to 1 year in jail for violating her probation by getting arrested Easter Sunday for driving while intoxicated. She was also ordered to report to a probation officer for two years after her release. A one-year sentence for assaulting her husband was deferred for one year.

"The full 12 months is now imposed," Judge Sawako Gardner told Spreen after accepting the agreement.

Noting a condition of the deal gives Spreen the right to petition the court for time served after her completion of a jailhouse treatment program, the judge warned her that will be at the discretion of the court.

"I can tell you it is not a guarantee," said Gardner.

April 16 - Spreen wrote a letter to two judges, expressing regret and asking for admission into a jail recovery program for women, with the option of petitioning the court for a reduced sentence upon completion of the program. During an April 4 sentencing hearing, the judge approved the jailhouse program, but warned Spreen there is no guarantee she will see a reduced sentence.

She has lost her teaching job.