Former anchorwoman pleads guilty to DUI charge

Former television and radio anchorwoman Allison Ross pleaded guilty Wednesday to a misdemeanor DUI charge and was immediately sentenced to five days of public work service and ordered to pay a $1,952 fine.

Ross, 55, was arrested near her La Jolla home about 4 a.m. last Sunday. A San Diego police officer spotted her driving to the north toward him on the wrong side of the road as he was heading south in the 7600 block of Fay Avenue, SDPD spokeswoman Monica Munoz said.

The patrolman had to swerve to avoid Ross’ car, Munoz said. He then turned around, followed her as she turned onto Kline Street and pulled her over.

Ross, who was expected to be released from custody today, told Commissioner Keri Katz that she was mistreated at the Las Colinas women’s jail in Santee and got arrested to expose conditions there.

Ross was an anchorwoman on KFMB-TV from 1978 to 1989. After leaving that post, she spent two years in a similar capacity with KNSD 7/39, then worked in radio as a news and radio reporter and anchor until November 2001.