By Richard Chang
Tresa Bales-Sterba, the woman whose car allegedly struck two boys as they walked to school two weeks ago, is now free again, after she was briefly taken back into custody Thursday.
Henry Perez-Rocha, 6, and Juan Perez-Rocha, 8, were struck in a crosswalk Oct. 5 at Greenback Lane and Mariposa Avenue on their way to Skycrest Elementary in Citrus Heights.
Police said that a Chrysler 300 driven by Bales-Sterba, 52, of Orangevale collided with a Chevy Suburban in the intersection, then spun into the children. The boys' mother was walking behind her sons with another child and witnessed the accident.
Hours after the collision, Citrus Heights police arrested Bales-Sterba on suspicion of felony driving under the influence with injury and misdemeanor driving with a suspended or revoked license.
She was released from the Sacramento County Jail after posting $100,000 bail. But during a Thursday morning court appearance, the judge raised the bail to $200,000 after a toxicology report showed Bales Sterba was under the influence of methamphetamine and other drugs at the time of the crash, said Sacramento County District Attorney's Office spokeswoman Shelly Orio.
The District Attoney's office filed a motion to increase bail based on the toxicology report and other factors, Orio said.
Bales-Sterba was taken back into custody Thursday, but was released the same day after posting the additional bail.
Eight-year-old Juan is recovering at home, while Henry, 6, is still listed in critical condition at UC Davis Medical Center. Henry was in a coma as of Saturday, said Candice Perez, the boy's aunt.
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