Lawyers for a Vancouver woman accused of driving drunk and biting her son to stop him from calling 9-1-1 may try a mental illness defense.

Paulette Lynn Spears pleaded innocent to charges of DUI, reckless endangerment and assault.

KGW photo

Lynette Spears in court.

Spears was arrested in late October after Spears apparently tried to take the phone away from the 8-year-old boy as he called, and eventually bit his hand to get him to release the phone, police said. The woman then hung up on dispatchers.

Background: Hear the 9-1-1 calls

Attorneys said there are still psychiatric evaluations that have to be done and her defense will be "diminished capacity.”

Spears’ attorney said Wednesday in court that she is not with her kids and cannot disclose their locations.