Woman Faces Manslaughter Charges In Deputy's Death

LAKE ELSINORE, Calif. -- A woman is in custody Sunday on suspicion of drunk driving and manslaughter charges in the death of a sheriff's deputy from North County, who was her passenger when she crashed in Lake Elsinore last week, authorities said.

Riverside County Deputy Jason Clay Peters, 36, died early Monday when the sedan he was riding in struck a tree on northbound Lake Street, coroner's officials said.

Jessica Marie Cuevas, 30, of Menifee, is charged with gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, according to jail records. She was held Sunday on $75,000 bail at Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside, a jail spokesman said.

Investigators earlier this week described the aftermath of the accident. At 1:47 a.m. Monday, Lake Elsinore police responded to the accident scene and found a Hispanic female lying outside a white 1999 Honda Accord on the east shoulder of Lake Street.

Inside the vehicle, officers found the body of a white male adult. Based on evidence at the scene, it appeared the Honda was northbound on Lake Street, left the road and collided with a tree on the right passenger side, killing the male passenger.

The driver was transported to Inland Valley Regional Medical Center for treatment of injuries.

In a statement released early Sunday, Lake Elsinore police and Riverside County sheriff's officials said Cuevas was arrested Tuesday in the death of Peters.

Jail records indicate Cuevas was arrested at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday and she was booked at 12:25 a.m. Wednesday. Cuevas is scheduled to appear in court at Southwest Justice Center at 1:30 p.m. May 16.