Driver arraigned on felony DUI charge

A woman charged with felony DUI was arraigned in Third Judical District Court on Friday in front of Judge Susan Wiebe.

 Larissa Elaine Coons, 33, pleaded not guilty to the charge. A jury trial was scheduled for May 7. 

 Coons was pulled over by an Idaho State Police trooper on Feb. 1 at about 5:53 p.m. on U.S. Highway 95 at milepost 98 in Washington County for speeding.

 Coons, who lists a North Dakota address, was driving a Cadillac at 86 miles per hour in a 65 mph zone, according to court documents. 

 The ISP officer smelled a strong odor of alcohol coming from the vehicle. 

 Coons was given field sobriety tests and failed them. Breath alcohol tests administered to Coons came back as .110 and .124. The legal limit in Idaho is .08.

 Coons was transported to the Washington County Jail and booked. Bond was set at $5,000, which she posted and was released.

 She was charged with felony DUI based on two previous DUI convictions. 

 In Idaho, the third DUI within 10 years is a felony. Coons was convicted of DUI in North Dakota twice in 2011, court records show.

 A conviction of felony DUI in Idaho can bring a penalty of up to 10 years in prison and a $5,000 fine, plus driver's license suspension of one to five years.

 Coons also was cited for driving without privileges, vehicle registration and speeding.