SPOKANE — A Spokane woman will not be allowed to drive as she awaits trial on charges stemming from two separate incidents involving dangerous driving behavior, a judge ruled today.
Wendy Clemente appeared in Spokane Superior Court for a hearing on a bench warrant for failure to comply with her release conditions. The court found that Clemente violated those conditions when she was arrested this weekend for a hit-and-run incident on Highway 902 near Guyger Boulevard.
According to prosecutors, Clemente struck and destroyed a yield sign, then left the scene and ended up in a ditch off the freeway. Clemente told officers that a semi-truck had cut her off, but prosecutors said she made no attempt to stop or notify anyone about the damaged property.
The hit-and-run arrest represents the second time in less than four months that Clemente has faced serious driving-related charges. In April, deputies arrested her after she drove her silver Ford Focus onto a sidewalk near South Fruitvale Road and attempted to hit a child riding a bicycle. She was booked on first-degree assault (attempted), DUI and first-degree criminal trespass charges.
During today’s hearing, prosecutors asked the court to impose a $100,000 bond, citing community safety concerns and noting a pattern of dangerous behavior behind the wheel.
“We’re looking at a prior situation where Miss Clemente was presenting extreme danger to the community, driving up on the sidewalk and repeatedly trying to chase down a boy on an electronic bike while she was in a motor vehicle, as witnessed by multiple people with multiple videos,” the prosecutor told the court.
Jennifer Taylor, the mother of the child Clemente allegedly chased in April, submitted a statement expressing her concerns about Clemente’s release.
“A vehicle can become a deadly weapon when it’s used in a reckless or threatening manner, and I am very thankful that my son was not seriously injured or killed,” Taylor said in her statement read aloud in court.
Taylor told the judge she fears Clemente poses an ongoing danger to her son and the community, particularly if released and allowed to continue driving.
“I am making it because I am a mother who is generally afraid for her son’s safety and the safety of others. No parent should have to fear that someone may use their vehicle to chase or endanger their child,” Taylor said in the statement.
Clemente’s defense attorney argued that the hit-and-run charge may not constitute a criminal violation and characterized the damage to the yield sign as minimal. However, the defense did not object to modifying her release conditions to include a blanket driving ban.
“We certainly have no objection to amending her release conditions to have a blanket no driving requirement,” the defense attorney said. “I think that’s probably appropriate, given that we’re seeing multiple allegations of concerning behaviors while behind the wheel.”
The judge agreed that the primary safety concern centered on driving rather than flight risk.
“When I’m looking at what the concern for the community is, it really does center around driving. And so I’m not inclined to impose a bond today. I’m inclined to change those release conditions to prevent any driving whatsoever,” the judge said.
No bond was imposed. Clemente remains free on her own recognizance but is prohibited from driving pending trial. Her trial dates are set for October 12 and November 2.
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