Boston Councilor Kendra Lara released after first court appearance following car crash

Boston City Councilor Kendra Lara pleaded not guilty and was released under orders not to drive without a valid license after her first court appearance related to a car crash that racked up eight charges against the elected official.

Lara swerved into a house on Centre Street in Jamaica Plain late last month while driving with a revoked license. The vehicle she was driving was uninsured, unregistered and had an expired inspection sticker, according to police reports.

Lara's young son Zaire was not in a booster seat at the time of the crash, and the Department of Children and Families was notified. Zaire suffered a cut to his eyebrow and received stitches.

Outside West Roxbury District Court on Wednesday, flanked by staff members, Lara said, "I have faith and trust in this court process and I will continue to go through it as is required of me." Several people nearby shouted at her to resign.

Court documents showed two new charges against Lara, including operating negligently in a manner that could endanger the public and recklessly permitting bodily injury to a child under 14 years old.

Lara's lawyer, Carlton Williams, tried unsuccessfully to get the charges dismissed. He said in court that Lara tried to avert the accident by swerving, to which the judge said, "I would just suggest that's not the only option. I suspect the vehicle was going too fast."

The other driver involved in the incident had pushed back on Lara's account to police that she swerved to avoid him, telling police that he had barely pulled out from the curb when he saw Lara coming down the street at a high rate of speed. His car was untouched.

Williams told reporters, "People were hurt. Her child was hurt, and I think that's the premier thing on her mind. As for the charges, these are things that in due course will be resolved."

A police investigation of the crash shows Lara was going at least 53 miles per hour on Centre Street, which has a speed limit of 25 miles per hour. Lara told officers she was wearing her seat belt at the time of the accident, but the auto investigation conducted by police states she was not.

Lara was also cited for a seat belt violation in 2010, and she failed to pay the fine associated with not wearing a seat belt. Her license was suspended, and then later revoked after she was cited for driving with a suspended license.

The home Lara crashed into suffered significant damage to the foundation, fence and porch. The homeowner, Georgia Kalogerakis, was present at Lara's hearing.

"I'm not happy to be here at all," Kalogerakis said. "There's been no acknowledgment on [Lara's] part of her actions. No contact, no indication of remorse, no concern over the stress that she caused me and my family."

Kalogerakis said she's lived in the home for 55 years and is currently working through the insurance process to repair the damage, and will need to pay a $1,000 deductible. She expressed gratitude that no one was seriously harmed.

Lara is due back in court for a pretrial hearing on Aug. 16. She was ordered not to drive without a valid Massachusetts license.

Boston City Councilors Ricardo Arroyo, Julia Mejia and Tania Fernandes Anderson, along with other City Hall staff, were also present at court. Fernandes Anderson expressed support for Lara.

"I think that people make mistakes and in her position, she needs to learn from this and be responsible and held accountable," Anderson said.

Lara was also recently questioned over her residency, and whether she lives in the district she represents, as all city councilors are required to do.

Williams said the residency challenge is "outrageous." He said, "I've personally been to her house many times."

Anderson also said Lara is living in the district. "I know she lives in the district ... been to her home, dropped her off, I know she lives there."