School trustee arrested, resigns

After his second alcohol-related arrest this year, Joe Enge seemingly resigned from his position on the Carson City School Board on Thursday.

"With my most humble and sincere apologies to the people of Carson City, the children of our community, my fellow trustees and the many good folks who serve the district each day, I hereby resign as a trustee, effective immediately," his resignation read. "I thank the people of Carson City for giving me the opportunity to do this public service, and again I regret and apologize for the fact that I have let them and our children down because of my personal problems."

Enge was arrested in the pre-dawn hours Thursday on suspicion of violating his bail conditions, which barred him from drinking alcohol after a drunken driving arrest in January.

The resignation letter was sent out around 9 a.m.

However, the letter was written by friend and University Regent Ron Knecht, who said he brought the letter to Enge in jail.

"I told him it was advisable to sign it and he shook his head (yes) and signed it," Knecht said.

School district officials received the letter but declined comment, saying they were waiting on verification from Enge.

Authorities were called to Enge's home at 1:08 a.m. Thursday during a dispute with a family member, according to the arrest report.

When deputies arrived, Enge had left his house in the 1700 block of Ridgeway Drive.

A family member told police Enge had driven away with his 9-year-old son and that he'd been drinking, according to the report. Enge was found a short time later in the 4000 block of Muldoon Drive, along with his son.

"(Enge) denied drinking alcohol prior to driving to the Muldoon Drive address," the report stated.

However, he allegedly registered a .174 on a breathalyzer test, more than double the legal limit of .08 in Nevada. He was arrested on suspicion of violation of bail conditions, a gross misdemeanor.

Barbara Howe, school board president, said she hopes the resignation is legitimate.

"He needs help," she said. "It's better for everyone if he steps away. We cannot afford the distraction. We have way too many important decisions to make."

When arrested on Jan. 31, Enge called it a "life-changing moment."

"I'm never going to take another drink and I'll be actively seeking professional help. I'm not proud of this. I'm embarrassed," he told the Nevada Appeal at the time. He pleaded guilty to the offense.

In February, fellow members of the Carson City School Board cast a formal vote urging him to resign his position.

He refused, saying it was a personal matter.

Enge, 46, is a former Carson High School history teacher and was elected to a four-year term on the school board in 2006.

In October 2007, he was cited for driving into a neighbor's fence and leaving the scene.

In 2005, he was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving in Lyon County, but charges were dismissed after Enge said in court he'd been wearing dentures, which can impact the accuracy of the tests.

He also has two previous DUI convictions from 1997. Under Nevada law, a person must have two DUI convictions within a seven-year period in order for the third offense to be considered a felony.

Enge remained Thursday in the Carson City Jail and was unavailable for comment. An arraignment is scheduled at 8:30 a.m. today.

Upon verification of his resignation, the position will be opened to applicants, and a new trustee could be appointed within a month's time, Howe said.