Dallas Raines’ wife is charged with assault

KABC meteorologist’s spouse denies beating adult daughter in car.

The wife of KABC-TV chief meteorologist Dallas Raines has been charged with assaulting their 25year-old daughter during a drive home from a country club, authorities said.

Danielle “Dannie” Raines, 58, pleaded not guilty Wednesday in a Pasadena courtroom to the felony charge of assault likely to produce great bodily injury, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.

Raines and her defense attorney could not be reached for comment.

The case relates to an Aug. 31 incident that began at a country club in La Cañada.

Prosecutors allege Raines had been drinking wine with her daughter at the country club and “became belligerent,” striking and pushing her daughter. The daughter, whose identity was not released, had been preparing to drive her mother home.

During the ride home, Raines allegedly assaulted the daughter, who stopped the car on the side of the road, prosecutors said.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Jodi Taksar alleged in a statement that Raines then beat and attempted to strangle her daughter.

Sherriff’s deputies arrested Raines about 4:40 a.m. Aug. 31, according to jail records. After posting $30,000 bond, Raines was released from custody about 2:30 p.m. that day, jail records show.

If convicted, she faces up to four years in state prison.

Raines, a writer, is active in local philanthropy.

Raines and her husband — the tanned, kinetic meteorologist for “Eyewitness News” broadcasts — live in Pasadena.

The couple’s profile took a dramatic turn in the early 1990s, when they were victims of a stalking plot by a former L.A. police officer.

Martha Cane wrote repeated love letters to Dallas Raines and vowed to break up his relationship.

Cane was convicted in 1993 of the misdemeanor stalking charge.