Pamela Masterman-Stearns is alleged to have drove drunk and struck a motorcyclist with her car in Lynnwood. She is then alleged to have fled the scene in her Volkswagen Jetta. A Snohomish County judge found that there was probable cause to hold Masterman-Stearns for these crimes, reports The Seattle Times.
Masterman-Stearns, a 50-year-old woman from Auburn, is a noted activist and president of the City of Seattle Native American Employees Association (CANOES). She had made news in 2010 as an activist that called for reform following the fatal shooting of a Native American woodcarver by the Seattle Police. Based on the statement of probable cause, this would be Masterman-Stearns third arrest for drunk driving.
The alleged incident occurred on Thursday night. Masterman-Stearns was driving near the intersection of 168th Street Southwest and Southwest 62nd Avenue West when she hit the motorcyclist. A witness says that the woman got out of her vehicle following the accident and walked to where the motorcyclist was laying in the street screaming in pain. Masterman-Stearns then allegedly got back into her vehicle and took off. The injured man was later taken to an area hospital.
Shortly after the incident, Masterman-Stearns was pulled over on Highway 99. The officer noticed that her airbags had been deployed and that she had injuries consistent with being struck by an airbag. The woman told the police officer that she had one beer that night. However, Masterman-Stearns reportedly had trouble with the field sobriety test and the officer noticed a bottle of alcohol in the backseat of her car. She later tested for well above double the legal limit, blowing a 0.189 into a Breathalyzer.
A repeat DUI offense is a serious charge. The penalties for the charge can include a lengthy prison sentence, fines, and license suspension. If you have been charged with such a crime in the King County area, you will want to work with an experienced attorney. To learn more about the details of your case, contact a DUI attorney at Wolff Criminal Defense. Call us at 425-284-2000 to schedule a consultation.
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