Baltimore Bishop Charged in DUI, Texting Death

And also fleeing the scene of the accident: Bishop charged with manslaughter in death of cyclist Thomas Palermo

Maybe she drank the leftovers?

A high-ranking leader in the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland was charged Friday with manslaughter for allegedly driving drunk and sending text messages when she struck and killed cyclist Thomas Palermo last month.

Bishop Suffragan Heather Elizabeth Cook, 58, surrendered to police Friday afternoon and was being held at Central Booking. A District Court commissioner set her bail at $2.5 million. She faces numerous other charges, including leaving the scene of the fatal accident in North Roland Park and driving under the influence. Both the manslaughter and leaving the scene charges carry a maximum sentence of 10 years.

Baltimore State's Attorney Marilyn J. Mosby said that Cook's breath alcohol level was 0.22 percent, nearly triple the legal limit in Maryland, and that she was text-messaging at the time of the collision.

0.22% is nearly three times the 0.08% lower limit for DUI in Maryland. That's not just a couple of sips of the sacramental grape juice. That's hammered, even for Baltimore. And this isn't her first run in with the fuzz:

Cook previously pleaded guilty to a 2010 drunken-driving charge on the Eastern Shore in which she registered a 0.27 percent blood-alcohol level. In that case, police said, Cook was stopped while driving on the shoulder of the road with a shredded tire. An empty bottle of liquor and marijuana were found in her vehicle, police said. An officer wrote in a police report that she was so intoxicated that he ended her field sobriety test because he feared she might hurt herself.

And what is she facing?

While Cook faces a maximum prison sentence of more than 20 years, lawyers said it was difficult to predict what sentence Cook ultimately might face if she is convicted, and it would likely depend on the judge.

Brian Thompson, also a former Baltimore County prosecutor, said sentences of between a year and 18 months are not uncommon. But because Cook is alleged to have been severely intoxicated and to have left the scene, coupled with her prior record, she could be facing more, Thompson said.

A couple of years in the pokey ministering to the other inmates and she could be back out on the streets.