By Shavonne Potts
spotts@salisburypost.com
A Salisbury woman accused of repeatedly driving drunk with her children in the car is back in jail, this time with a higher bond.
April Olivia Lomax, 28, attended a bond hearing Thursday in district court where Rowan County District Attorney Brandy Cook told the court Lomax was a danger to herself, the community and her children.
“All in all, the state is extremely concerned with Ms. Lomax and her driving habits. She is not only putting other citizens at risk, but her two children,” Cook said.
Lomax faces a number of pending charges, including driving while impaired, driving while license revoked, reckless driving to endanger and misdemeanor child abuse.
The hearing was held to review Lomax’s bond, which was set Thursday morning at $25,000 by District Court Judge Beth Dixon.
Lomax was arrested March 6 on charges of driving while impaired and two counts of misdemeanor child abuse and given a $10,000 bond.
Police found her car wrecked on Camp Road with two children inside.
Cook listed a number of traffic matters Lomax has pending in Rowan County, which include an incident last March where she was charged with reckless driving to endanger, driving while license revoked and open container after consuming alcohol.
A charge of providing fictitious information to an officer was dismissed by the district attorney’s office.
She was also charged with driving while impaired in May. A charge of not having a child in a rear seat was dismissed by the district attorney’s office.
In July, she was charged with driving while license revoked, driving while impaired and driving left of center.
According to an officer’s statement, Cook said, Lomax admitted to taking Xanax and her blood-alcohol content was 0.16 percent, double the legal limit.
“She ran off the roadway at least four times,” Cook said, reading from a report.
In August, Lomax was charged with driving while license revoked and failure to stop for a stop sign or flashing light.
In December, Lomax was charged with driving while impaired, driving while license revoked, two counts of misdemeanor child abuse and providing fictitious information to an officer.
In the most recent incident, Cook, reading from a report, told the court “she had several drinks,” Lomax was “unsteady on her feet,” and her blood-alcohol content was 0.17 percent.
On Dec. 14, she tested positive for benzodiazepine, Cook said. Benzodiazepines include valium, Xanax and other antidepressants.
Cook said Lomax had matters in five other counties — Cabarrus, Gaston, Guilford, Johnston and Warren, some pending and others disposed.
Lomax has two pending matters in Cabarrus County for driving while license revoked and unsafe movement.
She was convicted in 2002 in Cabarrus County for driving while license revoked and found guilty in 2001 of driving after consuming under 21.
In Johnston County, Lomax was charged with driving while license revoked, reckless driving and other traffic matters from 2006 to 2008. All were dismissed.
Lomax’s attorney, Michael Phillips, told the court the charges were pending.
“Ms. Lomax deserves her day in court. None of these things have been proven. She has not been found guilty of that,” he said.
One of the reasons for a bond, Phillips said, is to ensure that person appears in court.
“She has not missed a court date since my involvement,” he said.
Phillips asked that the bond not be raised.
Dixon said Lomax had a number of driving while license revoked incidents.
One of the issues of bond addresses whether someone is a danger to the community, Dixon said, “she’s continued to drive and put the community at risk.”
Dixon told Lomax if she makes her bond following the hearing she was not to drive and if she did, her license would be revoked.
Lomax remains in the Rowan County Detention Center.
Contact reporter Shavonne Potts at 704-797-4253.