Sonora, CA — A woman who led officers on a high-speed chase while intoxicated, and later slammed into multiple patrol vehicles, will spend 16 years and four months in prison.
The sentencing, a stipulated term agreed to between the prosecutor and the defendant, was handed down by Judge Laura Krieg.
Brenda Lee Devries of Sonora pleaded guilty to charges of assaulting a peace officer, recklessly fleeing a peace officer, and driving under the influence of a drug.
Devries was 62 at the time of the crime, this past December.
The District Attorney’s Office detailed the crime, noting, “The convictions arise out of an incident on December 8, 2025, when, after 6 pm, a citizen called to report a possible intoxicated/reckless driver on Highway 108 driving in the opposing lane of traffic near Hess Avenue. California Highway Patrol located the vehicle near the intersection of Highway 108 and South Washington Street, where the defendant drove through the red light. CHP initiated a traffic stop by turning their lights and then sirens on. The defendant pulled away and was driving erratically, including speeding, making unsafe u-turns, and failing to stop at stop signs. During the pursuit that lasted 16.1 miles and 22 minutes, the defendant swerved directly at and struck a CHP vehicle, then later swerved directly at a Tuolumne County Sheriff’s vehicle that responded to assist CHP, and then struck another CHP vehicle in an effort to evade capture. Once the defendant was taken into custody, it was determined that she was driving under the influence of methamphetamine.”Â
The case was prosecuted by District Attorney Cassandra Jenecke. Devries had a prior strike due to a voluntary manslaughter conviction in 2004.
