Underage Drinking Case Involving Hartland Principal Delayed

FLINT — The case against Hartland principal Tracey Sahouri over her alleged role of was adjourned for a month Wednesday.

Defense attorney Michael Manley, who is new to the case and represents Sahouri and her husband Raed, asked for additional time to get up to speed and to turn over new witness statements he received to prosecutors. But he added he still wanted to proceed as quickly as possible.

Judge Mike McCabe set a new final pretrial hearing for 1 p.m. Nov. 30 and possible 8:30 a.m. Dec. 8 jury trial date at 67th District Court in Flint, where the case has shifted from Fenton. Originally, a trial was slated for Nov. 17.

The Sahouris have maintained their innocence after they were ticketed over a July 9 incident at their Argentine Township in which police say they knowingly allowed underage drinking during their child's graduation party. They say they followed the law by alerting authorities immediately when they became aware of the illegal activity, but police have said evidence shows otherwise.

Violating the party host law is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 30 days in jail and/or $1,000 fine.

Tracey Sahouri, who has been Creekside Elementary School's principal since the school opened in 2002, this week, according to a letter to parents.

She also has faces scruntiny recently — actions that Hartland School District officials have defended. A final report on a Michigan Department of Education investigation is expected as early as Monday, but MDE officials have cautioned no time table is clear.