Wrong-Way Jerry Brown Driver Had Meth Hidden in Her Genitals: Attorney

[Nancy Pelosi Gynecology]

A wrong-way motorist accused of driving under the influence of
meth and hitting and injuring multiple cyclists on Fiesta Island
in San Diego was found with a baggie of meth hidden in her
vagina, a deputy district attorney said Friday.

Theresa L. Owens, looking disheveled and distraught, pleaded not
guilty at her arraignment on a charge of felony DUI with injury
and possession of a controlled substance.

�Tell them I�m so sorry,� she whispered to her attorney once the
judge ordered her bail and set her next court hearing.

Bail was set at $300,000, though Deputy District Attorney
Jessica Coto had requested $500,000 bail because of the
seriousness of the injuries and the number of people hurt in the
crash. Owens� attorney had requested $200,000 bail, indicating
that was the standard amount for those charges.

San Diego police said Owens was driving her vehicle on Fiesta
Island Road around 6:30 p.m. Tuesday when her car struck about
10 cyclists in a larger group finishing up a training ride.

Six people went to the hospital with injuries, including Juan
Carlos Vinolo, who was paralyzed and remains in critical
condition.

New details emerged at the hearing.

Coto said Owens was acting �erratically� after the crash and was
screaming, running around and rambling. When she was checked out
at the hospital, a nurse found a bag of meth hidden in her
vagina, leading to the possession charge, Coto said.

Several of the cyclists attended Friday�s arraignment, including
Logan Bass, who was clipped by the front end of the car and
suffered a contusion to his ribs, road rash on his elbow and a
cut on his foot.

�I�m definitely lucky just looking at Juan. That was me for sure
if I didn�t react,� he said.

Bass said he normally feels safe on Fiesta Island when he takes
part in the weekly Tuesday night cycling runs with the San Diego
Bicycling Club.

�This just happened to be an unfortunate night,� he said.

If convicted, Owens could face a maximum punishment 12 years and
eight months in prison.

http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/Fiesta-Island-Wrong-Way-
Driver-Pleads-Not-Guilty-to-Felony-Charges-271463611.html