A woman who punched a flight attendant has been jailed for DUI in Northern California and the U.S. Attorney persuaded a federal judge to revoke her $20,000 bond.
Vyvianna M. Quinonez, 28, of Antelope, Calif., is now being held without bail in an undisclosed federal facility. Her sentencing for the assault was delayed Thursday (March 10) to May 13, as it had been set for March 11.
Quinonez pleaded guilty Dec. 22, 2021, to interfering with a Southwest Airlines flight attendant as it was landing in San Diego International Airport on May 23, 2021.
“Defendant is a danger to the community,” wrote the U.S. Attorney’s office in a legal brief that cited the Jan. 2022 drunk driving incident.
Quinonez was stopped by a California Highway Patrol officer in January after the officer saw her swerving while driving a black Chevrolet Camaro. She had “red and water eyes,” according to documents from the U.S. Attorney’s office.
Quinonez told the officer she was arguing with her boyfriend on the phone at the time while driving. The officer smelled “a strong odor of alcohol” and noticed her speech was slurred, according to court documents.
Quinonez claimed “her high blood alcohol level is due to gastric bypass surgery,” according to documents. She told pretrial services in San Diego her doctor had told her that “if she drinks alcohol, her blood alcohol concentration may rise abnormally due to the small size of her stomach.”
She was cited by the CHP and released from jail.
However, once the U.S. Attorney’s office learned of the incident, they sought to revoke her bond as a violation of conditions that she must remain law abiding.
A no bail warrant for her arrest was issued by U.S. District Court Judge Todd Robinson, who took her guilty plea, and she was arrested Feb. 15.
Her attorney, Knut Johnson, could not be reached for comment, but records show that he did argue for her release in Northern California.
In a joint motion to delay the sentencing to May 13, Johnson wrote “because the U.S. Marshal has not transported her to San Diego, defense counsel has been unable to prepare for sentencing.”
On Flight 700 from Sacramento, a flight attendant told Quinonez to put her face mask over her nose and to stow her tray table and fasten her seat belt. The attendant leaned towards Quinonez and she was punched in the face and her hair was pulled.
The victim’s face was bloodied and she had to get two crowns to repair damage to two teeth. The fight was captured on another passenger’s cellphone video and posted online.
Her plea agreement calls for her to serve 10 months in prison with more time suspended. Quinonez has agreed to come up with $20,000 to pay for the victim’s injuries and lost wages.
