Suspect in fatal DWI case waives right to hearing

BOMBAY — Without uttering a word during the proceeding, a Quebec woman charged with killing a pedestrian while allegedly driving drunk waived her right to a preliminary hearing Tuesday in Bombay Town Court.

With her attorney, Peter Dumas of Malone, speaking on her behalf, Jessica T. Lazore, 27, of 270 Maple Road, Akwesasne, Quebec, continued her not-guilty plea to charges of first-degree vehicular manslaughter, a felony, and aggravated driving while intoxicated.

Police say Ms. Lazore was driving north on St. Regis Road in Hogansburg about 5:15 a.m. Friday when her vehicle hit Tyson Arquette, 21, Hogansburg. Court documents show her blood alcohol content, measured shortly after the collision, was 0.18 percent, the threshold under state law for aggravated DWI.

A deposition filed by St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Police Patrol Officer Virginia Johnson said Ms. Lazore had glassy, bloodshot eyes and staggered as she exited her vehicle. The deposition said Ms. Lazore admitted she had five alcoholic beverages on the night of the incident.

Ms. Lazore was returned from court Tuesday to the Franklin County jail, Malone, where she is being held in lieu of $25,000 bail. She is scheduled to appear in town court again Feb. 16 for a bail reduction hearing.