San Francisco, CA – San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins announced today that her office secured a conviction of Detra Thomas (58), after a trial by jury for driving under the influence of drugs on I-80 near Fourth Street. Ms. Thomas was convicted of driving under the influence of drugs (VC 23152(f)).
“Driving under the influence of drugs is dangerous and needlessly puts lives at risk,” said District Attorney Brooke Jenkins. “There is no reason why anyone should engage in this behavior; this crime, like driving under the influence of alcohol, is completely preventable. The jury’s verdict here holds Ms. Thomas accountable and sends a message that San Franciscans will not tolerate this conduct.”
According to testimony and other evidence presented at trial, on August 16, 2025, at approximately 11:30 p.m., California Highway Patrol officers on I-80 eastbound observed a vehicle without a rear license plate make an illegal lane change over the gore point from the exit lane near Fourth Street. Prior to initiating a traffic stop, officers noted that the vehicle was swerving within its lane. Upon contacting the driver, officers immediately noted possible signs of drug intoxication. Officers conducted a DUI investigation and placed the driver under arrest for driving under the influence of drugs. A chemical blood test later confirmed the presence of elevated levels of cocaine and THC.
The case against Ms. Thomas was successfully prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Ricky Herrera with assistance from paralegals Nohemi Torres, Lord Fernandez and Raquel Paz Aleman and IT support from Leland Chan and Noaeh Pinaire. Prosecutors were able to develop a strong case against Ms. Thomas based on the California Highway Patrol’s thorough investigation and assistance.
“I would like to express my gratitude to the members of the jury for returning a fair and just verdict,” said Assistant District Attorney Ricky Herrera. “The tireless work of our California Highway Patrol officers in keeping our highways safe can be overlooked at times, but this verdict shows that San Francisco will not tolerate impaired drivers endangering lives in our community.”
Court Number: 25017845
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