In a shocking incident, an Arizona judge was caught in a compromising position, publicly urinating while intoxicated, leading to her resignation and her husband’s arrest. The incident occurred in the early hours of October 4 in Prescott, Arizona, involving Yavapai County Superior Court Judge Pro Tempore Kristyne Schaaf-Olson, 42.
The police were alerted to the situation by several witnesses who observed Schaaf-Olson behaving inappropriately. Upon arrival, officers found the judge attempting to extricate herself from a shrubbery, her pants down, and visibly intoxicated. The responding officer described the scene as “disgusting,” noting that Schaaf-Olson was so inebriated she struggled to spell her own name. Despite her state, she was quick to identify herself as a judge.
The situation escalated when Schaaf-Olson’s husband, Jason Olson, the parks and recreation manager for the Town of Chino Valley, attempted to intervene. Ignoring police orders to step back, Olson repeatedly tried to pull his wife away from the officers. When questioned about his wife’s behavior, Olson denied that she was the one misbehaving.
Despite repeated warnings, Olson continued to interfere with the police investigation, leading to his arrest. As he was taken into custody, additional officers arrived on the scene. The initial responding officer described the scene to his colleagues, noting that Schaaf-Olson was “peeing everywhere” and was so intoxicated she couldn’t spell her name.
Following the incident, Schaaf-Olson was issued a citation for public urination or defecation. Two days later, she resigned from her position as Judge Pro Tempore in the Yavapai County Superior Court. In a statement, she cited “current physical, medical, and family circumstances” as the reason for her resignation. She also acknowledged that the Yavapai community deserved judges who could fully commit to their roles, something she felt she could no longer do.
Presiding Judge John Napper expressed his respect and appreciation for Schaaf-Olson’s decision to step down. Her replacement will be appointed by the Chief Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court and approved by county leaders. Schaaf-Olson also self-reported her conduct to the Arizona Commission on Judicial Conduct, which is currently investigating the matter.
Jason Olson was cited for resisting arrest, interfering with a crime scene investigation, and obstruction of government operations. He is scheduled to appear in court on November 18.