Lakeside

A Lemon Grove woman, sentenced last month to nearly 11 years in prison for killing two bicyclists in Lakeside while driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs, received another six-month sentence Thursday for a drunk-driving conviction.

San Diego Municipal Court Judge Janet I. Kintner imposed an 18-month sentence on Monica Rusconi, 26, for misdemeanor drunk driving, driving with a revoked license and possession of a controlled substance.

“A prison sentence probably is the best thing because it’s obvious that through the years nothing else has gotten your attention,” Kintner told Rusconi, who has three previous drunk-driving convictions.

“It’s unfortunate you have the problems you do, but when you get behind the wheel you start involving others in your problems. A prison sentence will be your best chance to get away from these problems.”

Rusconi will serve one year of the latest sentence concurrently with her state prison term for manslaughter. Because of the time she spent in jail awaiting trial and sentencing, Rusconi will serve two weeks in the County Jail at Las Colinas on the drunk-driving conviction before being transferred to a state prison.

California Highway Patrol officers found Rusconi passed out Aug. 6 in the front seat of her pickup truck, which was parked in the center divider of California 94. A jury found her guilty of the misdemeanor charges one day before El Cajon Superior Court Judge James Malkus sentenced her for the Jan. 4 deaths of Thomas M. Straus, 42, of Crest, and Therese Martin, 56, of San Carlos.