A stunning fall from grace has shaken the Yavapai County legal system. Judge Pro Tempore Kristyne Schaaf-Olson abruptly resigned after a shocking incident of public intoxication and indecent exposure in Prescott, Arizona.
The events unfolded in the early hours of October 4th, around 1:30 a.m. Witnesses contacted police to report a woman behaving erratically and engaging in deeply disturbing conduct hidden within the landscaping.
Body camera footage revealed a scene described as “disgusting” and “unacceptable” by the responding officer. The woman, later identified as Judge Schaaf-Olson, was found squatting in shrubbery, her pants partially down.
Her level of intoxication was so profound that she was unable to even articulate her own name. The officer’s assessment was blunt: she was “useless,” completely incapacitated by alcohol.
The situation quickly escalated with the arrival of her husband, Jason Olson, a local parks and recreation manager. He aggressively intervened, ignoring repeated commands from officers to stand down.
Olson attempted to physically remove his wife from the scene, obstructing the police investigation. An officer issued a stark warning – a threat of force if he continued to resist – before taking him into custody.
Jason Olson faced charges of resisting arrest, interfering with a crime scene, and obstructing government operations. His wife, Judge Schaaf-Olson, was cited for public urination.
Just two days later, Schaaf-Olson submitted her resignation to Presiding Judge John Napper. She cited “current physical, medical, and family circumstances” as the reason for her departure.
In a carefully worded statement, she acknowledged the community’s need for dedicated judges and expressed her belief that, given her personal situation, she could no longer fulfill that commitment. She stated it would be “difficult to honor” her duties.
Judge Napper accepted her resignation, expressing appreciation for her service to Yavapai County and acknowledging her willingness to remain in her position during the search for a replacement.
Schaaf-Olson’s final day on the bench was October 31st, marking a swift and ignominious end to her judicial career. The incident has left a lasting mark on the Yavapai County legal landscape.
