A Spanish Fort High School teacher and her husband are facing criminal charges after Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office investigators determined the couple allowed teenagers to drink alcohol at their home following a school prom.
Kimberly Smith, 45, and David Smith, 49, both of Daphne, turned themselves in at the Baldwin County Corrections Center this week and were released after posting bond of $500 each, according to sheriff’s office records. Investigators said the couple opened their home to a group of teenagers after the Spanish Fort prom and allegedly supplied alcohol during the gathering.
The case came to light after school administrators and sheriff’s deputies, working alongside the Alabama Department of Human Resources, interviewed six juveniles and their parents at the high school. Most of the students told investigators they had been given alcohol by the Smiths during the party, which was described to them as a safe, supervised alternative to teens driving or gathering elsewhere after the dance.
According to investigators, Kimberly Smith collected the teenagers’ car keys and cellphones when they arrived, telling them the move was meant to keep them from driving after drinking or posting photos and videos of the party on social media. Two of the students who were interviewed said Smith later warned them not to discuss the party with anyone outside the group, telling them she could lose her job or otherwise get in trouble if word got out.
Sheriff’s officials have not released the specific charges filed against the couple, but hosting or knowingly allowing a gathering where minors consume alcohol can carry criminal liability under Alabama law, separate from any charges tied to providing alcohol to a minor directly. Investigators continue to review statements gathered from the students and their families as the case moves forward.
The Baldwin County school system has not said whether Kimberly Smith’s teaching position has been affected by the arrest. Sheriff’s officials said the investigation began after concerns were raised about the party in the days following prom, prompting the joint interviews at the high school.
Cases involving adults who host or supply alcohol at teen parties tend to draw close attention from both school officials and law enforcement in Baldwin County, given the safety risks tied to underage drinking, including impaired driving and other harm to minors. Sheriff’s officials have previously urged parents not to serve or allow alcohol at gatherings involving minors, even when the stated goal is to keep teens from driving after drinking elsewhere.
No further court dates had been announced for Kimberly or David Smith as of this week. The Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office said the investigation remains active.