Plymouth South Principal Fired After DUI Charge

PLYMOUTH, MA — The Plymouth South High School principal charged with drunken driving over the weekend was fired this week. Plymouth Superintendent of Schools Gary Maestas informed the school community that James Hanna, 49, was relieved of his duties and that administrators were working on a plan for the rest of the school year with him gone.

Hanna pleaded not guilty to charges of drunken driving and causing a crash. Police said on Saturday night, Hanna was drunk behind the wheel when he rear-ended another vehicle on South Street. Police said Hanna admitted to looking down at his phone at the time of the crash. He failed a field sobriety test and his blood-alcohol limit was nearly three times the .08 limit, police said.

Maestas said Hanna's departure was a personnel matter and there will be no further comment, according to Wicked Local Plymouth. Maestas told parents officials will soon communicate their plan with Hanna gone.

Hanna served as the school's principal since 2017. He was ordered to surrender his license and is due back in court March 3.