Driver Charged in DUI Rampage Pleads Not Guilty

Cainan Schierholtz, a 23-year-old San Ramon resident, plead not guilty Thursday morning to felony DUI charges against him in connection with a string of crashes along Danville Boulevard and Railroad Avenue.

Schierholtz's next court appearance is scheduled for Sept. 3 at 8:30 a.m. at the Martinez courthouse, to set the date for a preliminary hearing–where all the facts of the case will be laid out so a judge can decide if there's enough evidence to hold a trial.

Schierholtz, a graduate of San Ramon Valley High, is charged with a felony DUI with injuries, three counts of felony hit-and-run with injuries and one misdemeanor hit-and-run. In the Aug. 1 crashes, he is accused of hitting a pedestrian, a bicyclist, two vehicles and knocking down a light pole with his red Dodge pickup. There were only minor injuries from the collisions.

"Cainan feels terrible about what happened," said Schierholtz's attorney Derek Ewin, a former Contra Costa County prosecutor, outside the courtroom after Schierholtz's first court appearance two weeks ago. "He, like all of us, is very thankful that nobody was injured any worse than they were."

There were four people in court to show their support for Schierholtz Thursday morning. Ewin spoke to his client briefly through the barrier in the courtroom as Schierholtz remains in custody at the West County Detention facility in Richmond on $200,000 bail.

Ewin said the discovery process for the case would include reviewing the police report, DVDs and CDs showing the evidence related to the accidents.

Prosecutor Dominique Yancey appeared to represent the District Attorney's office.