No bail for Lynn woman in 5th OUI

SALEM – A Lynn woman who police say had two cans of beer in her car as well as an illegal substance after being caught driving drunk for her fifth time following an accident on Maple Street two months ago remains held at Framingham Prison for Women without bail.Mary Graciale, 55, of 34 Webster St., #1, appeared for her arraignment Wednesday morning in Salem Superior Court and pleaded innocent to operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol with a blood-alcohol level more than .08 for a fifth time, leaving the scene of an accident after causing property damage, operating a motor vehicle with a revoked license and unlawful possession of Class C substance, Klonopin.Assistant District Attorney Jane Dever Prince requested that Graciale be detained without bail until a dangerousness hearing can be scheduled.Judge Howard J. Whitehead adopted her request and ordered Graciale to be held without bail and continued the case to July 1 for the hearing.The charges arise out of an incident in Lynn on the evening of April 17 when Graciale allegedly was involved in an accident on Maple Street while driving a red Chevy Blazer.Witnesses said she drove her vehicle in reverse and struck the front of a 2002 Nissan Pathfinder.When the driver of the Nissan tried to back her car away, Graciale allegedly struck the Nissan a second time and fled from the scene.Police immediately responded to the scene and apprehended Graciale a short distance from the scene.She reportedly told police she was drunk and no field sobriety tests were necessary.Authorities said they discovered a number of Klonopin tablets and two cans of beer in the car. He alcohol-blood level registered at .24, three times the legal limit, police said.Graciale has numerous drunken driving convictions dating back to 1983 with the most recent out of Salem District Court in 2001.