Middle school teacher faces DUI charge

BAY MINETTE, Ala. (WALA) - Mobile County middle school teacher Charles Lewis, Jr. was in court Wednesday facing a DUI charge. Lewis was granted a continuance and is expected to be in court again later this month.

Charles Lewis, Jr., a Causey Middle School teacher, was arrested on January 4, 2010. The arrest came after Lewis wrecked his car in Baldwin County.

That was the first public appearance Lewis has made since allegations against him spurred an investigation by the Mobile Police Department, the Department of Human Resources, and the Mobile County Public School System.

Judge Michelle Thomason granted Lewis a continuance on his trial. John Beck, Lewis' attorney, said getting a little extra time is typical in cases like this one.

"That's actually very normal in a first setting for a trial in a DUI. We are still trying to get our discovery and our evidence together, and it's probably nine times out of ten, we get a discovery continuance," Beck said.

Lewis also faces one charge of sex abuse against a child. Beck plans on addressing that case as soon as the court schedules a date.

"Like all felony cases that have not yet been indicted, we are entitled to a prelim hearing so the judge can take a look at the evidence that the state will present," he added.

Lewis is currently out on bond, but has not made any comments about the charges he is facing.