Chicago DUI Lawyer Blog

According to data from the Illinois Secretary of State, since 2007 DUI arrests in Lake County are down 42% and state-wide 28%. The decrease in DUI arrests in Lake County has inevitably resulted in a lower number of DUI prosecutions. According to data from the Lake County State's Attorney's Office, there has been a 39% decrease in misdemeanor DUI cases and 45% decrease in felony DUI cases over the last five years. During this same period of time, the number of BAIID devices installed in Lake County has more than quadrupled in Lake County and more than tripled throughout Illinois according to the Illinois Secretary of State.

The Lake County Sheriff's Office made 350 DUI arrests in 2012 and are projected to make 360 arrests in 2013. According to Sheriff Mark Curran, this increase is based on a greater number of officers on the road. This number does not reflect any decrease in arrests by local police departments or the Illinois State Police. The decrease in DUI arrests has been attributed to several factors including stricter DUI laws, increased education, and the high costs associated with a DUI charge.

DUI figures show less drinking and driving in Lake County, www.lakezurich.suntimes.com, May 21, 2013

Limo/Party bus driver, Richard Madison, 54, of Palos Hills is charged with DUI after driving 24 students to their high school prom. The teens reportedly witnessed Madison jump a median and cut off three cards before taking the teens to the wrong hotel 5 miles from their actual destination. There were also reports that the driver had red eyes and was stumbling. Some of the students called their parents due to the erratic driving. Two off-duty police officers handled the situation when the limo arrived at the prom. Madison was subsequently arrested by DuPage County Sheriff's deputies for driving under the influence of alcohol and reckless conduct.

Madison's BAC was allegedly six times the legal limit for a person operating with a commercial driver's license (CDL). The legal limit is .04 for CDL drivers. Madison claims mechanical issues were at fault and he is innocent of the allegations.

Chicago limo driver arrested for drunk driving after taking 23 teens to prom, www.foxnews.com, May 13, 2013

Limo Company: Prom Driver Charged With DUI Was 'Bad Apple', www.chicago.cbslocal.com, May 13, 2013

Julio Martinez may be awarded $325,000 after sustaining a beating by a Chicago Police officer while handcuffed to a metal bar in a holding room after falsely charged with DUI. Martinez, a hemophiliac, was treated for a possible skull fracture in March 2006 after being beaten by Officer John Haleas. Haleas was formerly known as a "top DUI cop" for making a high volume of DUI arrests in Chicago, but eventually lost his badge after accusations of falsifying DUI arrests arose in 2008. He pled guilty last year to attempted obstruction of justice and received a five-day suspension, which was eventually reduced to a one-day suspension. He is now assigned to the Records Division earning nearly $81,000 a year. Alderman Willie Cochran has called the position "unacceptable."

In 2005/06, Haleas made 718 arrests, but 156 of those arrests were dismissed after he was himself arrested. Two Cook County prosecutors witnessed the officer's alleged failure to give a DUI suspect a field sobriety test or read a DUI suspect the warnings of refusing or taking a breathalyzer test. Nine lawsuits were reportedly filed against Haleas and the City of Chicago, with more than 25 people alleging wrongdoing by Haleas.

On Monday, the City Council's Finance Committee recommended the $325,000 settlement. The recommendation will go to the full council on Wednesday for approval.

City to pay $325,000 to hemophiliac beaten by cop, falsely charged with DUI, www.suntimes.com, May 6, 2013

City to pay $325,000 to settle case against former top DUI cop, www.chicagotribune.com, May 6, 2013

William Reece, 49, of Carpentersville was sentenced Wednesday to eight years in prison for his ninth DUI conviction. According to Kane County officials, he was convicted after pleading guilty to one count of aggravated driving under the influence on March 7th. The DUI was charged as a Class X felony because it occurred after a fifth DUI conviction. Reece also pled guilty to driving on a revoked license, charged as a Class 4 felony.

The DUI stems from a traffic stop conducted by the West Dundee police on September 1st. Police allege that Reece's vehicle crossed the center line. Upon further investigation, police claim he had slurred speech, glassy, red eyes and a strong odor of alcohol on his breath. Reports state that he had difficulty retrieving his license and dropped the contents of his wallet on the car floor along with his cellphone. Reece refused to take field sobriety tests and admitted drinking. He consented to a breath test at the station, registering a BAC of .219 percent, almost three times the legal limit.

Between 1987 and 2007, Reece had eight DUI convictions occurring in Kane County and Lake County resulting in three prison terms. Reece is eligible for day-for-day credit during his prison sentence, effectively cutting his length of stay in half. He was also given credit for 235 days served in custody at Kane County Jail since his arrest.

Carpentersville man gets 8 years after 9th DUI conviction, www.chicagotribune.com, April 30, 2013

Alex Reyes, 24, is charged with reckless homicide and aggravated DUI resulting in death after a fatal crash with a Chicago squad car Friday night. Reyes, of Joliet, was allegedly driving a car with three passengers when he crashed into a Chicago police vehicle around 11:30 p.m. in the Austin neighborhood.

According the the Cook County Medical Examiner's office, an 18-year-old man was ejected from the vehicle and died at the scene. Reyes and another passenger were critically injured according to reports. Neither of the officers involved in the accident suffered life-threatening injuries but were transported to a nearby hospital. In addition to DUI and reckless homicide, Reyes was also charged with several traffic violations including driving on a suspended license, improper lane usage, driving without insurance, and two counts of damage to public property.

Man Charged With DUI, Reckless Homicide In Crash With Squad Car, www.cbslocal.com, April 15, 2013

Charges filed in fatal collision with police SUV, www.chicagotribune.com, April 15, 2013

Larissa Lomax, 32, of Evanston is charged with driving under the influence of drugs after a fatal crash involving a Skokie pedestrian. Alan Rubin, 57, was allegedly walking northbound across Main Street in the crosswalk when he was hit by Lomax's vehicle as she was turning east off of Skokie Boulevard at approximately 3:30pm on Tuesday. Rubin was transported to St. Francis Hospital in Evanston where he was later pronounced dead. Lomax has been charged with a drug-based DUI as well as failure to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk. Evanston Police have continued their investigation.

Pedestrian struck in Skokie dies, motorist charged with DUI, www.chicagotribune.com, April 4, 2013

David Kreutz, 23, of Chicago is charged with DUI and a felony cannabis charge after an accident with a squad car on Tuesday night. Kreutz reportedly crashed into the officers' vehicle after turning left in front of them on North Sheridan Road in Rogers Park around 7 p.m.. The two Chicago police officers were transported to Saint Francis Hospital in Evanston in good condition. Kreutz, who works as a bartender, stayed at the scene after the crash. A police department spokesman claimed that he had about 50 grams of cannabis on him. He faces traffic violations including failure to yield the right of way while turning left, driving without insurance, DUI-alcohol, DUI-drugs, and faces a felony count of manufacture and delivery of cannabis. He was scheduled to appear in bond court today.

Man Charged With DUI After Crash Injures 2 Cops In Rogers Park, www.chicago.cbslocal.com, March 27, 2013

An off-duty Chicago Transit Authority employee faces DUI charges after allegedly crashing into an ambulance. Around 12:30 a.m. on Thursday, a Chicago Fire Department ambulance was transporting a patient and a family member to the University of Illinois Medical Center when it was involved in an accident at Garfield Boulevard and Ashland Avenue. A pickup truck allegedly driven by an off-duty CTA employee reportedly crashed into the ambulance. The driver was given field sobriety tests and arrested for driving under the influence. The occupants of the ambulance were transferred into another ambulance and taken to the hospital. No additional injuries were reported from the crash.

Off-Duty CTA Worker Suspected Of DUI In Crash With Ambulance, www.chicago.cbslocal.com, March 21, 2013

Michael J. Picon, 42, formerly of West Chicago was sentenced last week to 10 years in prison for his 11th DUI arrest in the past 20 years. Picon pled guilty in January to his most recent DUI and aggravated driving with a revoked license stemming from a 2012 arrest near Sugar Grove. According to prosecutors, he was charged on April 16, 2012 when an officer checked on his vehicle which was pulled over on the side of the road. The officer claimed that Picon smelled of alcohol and had an open can of beer from a 12-pack found in the vehicle. According to police, he failed sobriety tests and admitted to drinking at a friend's house earlier.

Picon was facing a Class X felony on the DUI, punishable by a prison term of 6 to 30 years. He was facing a Class 3 felony on the driving on revoked charge. A Kane County judge sentenced Picon to 10 years on the DUI and a concurrent 5 years for the revoked license charge. Prosecutors reported that Picon had been arrested 25 times since 1992 for driving on a suspended or revoked license out of DuPage, Kane, and Rock Island.

Former West Chicago man gets 10 years for 11th DUI, www.chicagotribune.com, February 28, 2013

Man gets 10 years for 11th DUI, www.suntimes.com, February 28, 2013

Dean A. Suominen, 37, of Shorewood avoided jail time after pleading guilty Tuesday in DuPage County to misdemeanor DUI and reckless driving after officials allege he was traveling at more than 140 mph at the time of the incident. Suominen was charged on January 10, 2012 after his Dodge Charger veered off the road, went airborne, and struck a billboard in Naperville. His BAC was reportedly at .20, more than two times the legal limit. According to prosecutors, a data recorder in the vehicle registered a speed of 142 mph just before the car left the road. Suominen was sentenced to two years of court supervision, 100 hours of community service, over $3,000 in fines, court costs and restitution. In exchange for the plea, prosecutors dismissed citations for driving too fast for conditions, improper lane usage, and speeding. He had no prior criminal history or alcohol-related driving offenses on his record according to his criminal defense attorney.

No jail for man accused of driving drunk at 142 mph, www.chicagotribune.com, February 27, 2013

Naperville driver accused of going 142 mph pleads guilty, www.dailyherald.com, February 27, 2013

Charges were filed Wednesday against a former Des Plaines Police Department commander for falsely reporting phony DUI arrests to secure federal funding. Timothy Veit, 55, of Mount Prospect, allegedly overstated 122 DUI arrests that never took place between 2009 and 2012. The increased numbers reportedly resulted in $133,000 of federal overtime grants from the U.S. Department of Transportation. The program required officers to make one DUI arrest for every 10 hours of Sustained Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) funding. Des Plaines police only made 30 of these arrests over holidays such as Christmas and St. Patrick's Day from 2009-2012.

Veit is charged with making false statements, punishable by up to 5 years in jail and a $250,00 fine if convicted. Thirteen Des Plaines police officers face internal discipline as a result of the alleged fraud. Veit was a 31-year veteran and retired last year.

Feds: Des Plaines Police Overstate DUI Arrests To Secure Funding, www.cbslocal.com, February 20, 2013

Mark Ditka, 50, of Deerfield, pled guilty Wednesday to felony drunk driving and unlawful possession of a controlled substance at the Lake County Courthouse. Prosecutors allege that he was pulled over by police after he was observed weaving on Waukegan Road in Deerfield on October 7, 2012. The legendary coach's son was sentenced to 24 months probation and required to complete 200 hours of public service work. He must also abide by a 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew and random drug tests. In addition, he is not allowed to frequent any establishment whose primary purpose is the distribution of alcohol. Ditka was facing a maximum 3 years in prison.

Although this marks his fourth DUI arrest, the new charge is his first conviction for driving under the influence. He was additionally charged with drug possession after police allegedly discovered hydrocodone pills his car at the time of arrest. Ditka did not have a prescription for the painkillers. A pending DUI from 2011 was dismissed as part of the plea agreement with Lake County prosecutors.

Ditka's son pleads guilty to DUI, avoids jail, www.suntimes.com, January 30, 2013

Mark Ditka pleads guilty to drug, alcohol charges, www.dailyherald.com, January 30, 2013

Delia Aguila, 27, of Humboldt Park was allegedly driving under the influence when she struck and killed two people changing a tire in the Parkview neighborhood. At approximately 10:45 p.m. on Saturday night, Aguila's minivan reportedly swerved and struck William Brunson, 39, of Chicago and Victoria Means, 34, of Riverdale. According to the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office, both of them were tragically pronounced dead on the scene. Aguila allegedly continued driving, but witnesses assisted police in locating the minivan a couple of blocks away. Aguila was charged with two counts of felony aggravated DUI, reckless driving, open alcohol, driving without a license, driving without insurance, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, improper lane usage, and failure to render aid. She is due in bond court today.

Woman charged with DUI in fatal weekend crash, www.chicagotribune.com, January 29, 2013

Humboldt Park woman charged with DUI in double fatal hit-and-run, www.suntimes.com, January 28, 2013

Jerzy Orczyk, 60, of Glenview is charged with aggravated DUI after allegedly crashing into two cars and seriously injuring another driver. According to the Cook County sheriff's office, on January 6 around 3 p.m. Orczyk drove through a red light at the intersection of Greenwood Road and Central Road and struck another vehicle. He allegedly continued south in the northbound lanes of Greenwood before crashing into a second vehicle and then a street sign before coming to a stop in a ditch.

Orczyk is charged with aggravated DUI resulting in great bodily harm and leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident that resulted in injury or great bodily harm. His bond was set at $35,000. He reportedly has two prior DUI convictions in Cook County from 2000 and 2006. The driver of the first vehicle is a 56-year-old Wilmette man, who was taken to and released from Glenbrook Hospital. The driver of the second vehicle declined medical assistance. Orczyk was taken to Advocate Lutheran Hospital in Park Ridge.

Glenview man faces felony charge in Maine Twp. accident, www.dailyherald.com, January 10, 2013

Glen Ray Higginbotham Jr., 34, of Yorkville was sentenced in Will County on Monday to 8 years in prison for two DUI arrests that occurred in 2010 and 2011 (4 years on each count). These arrests come after he served time in prison in 1999 for a drunken-driving crash that killed at 10-year-old girl in Lockport. At that time, Higginbotham was sentenced to 7 years in prison for reckless homicide. His driving privileges were revoked in 2000.

Candace Graham was a passenger in her mother's car when Higginbotham crashed into the passenger side just before midnight on May 4, 1999 as they were pulling out of a convenient store. According to police, he was speeding 81 mph in a 35-mph zone. Police say he was legally intoxicated and had cocaine in his system. Reportedly, Constance Graham later admitted that she was also intoxicated when the incident occurred. At the time of the crash, Higginbotham was serving suspended sentences on convictions for theft, possessing a stolen motor vehicle, and aggravated battery.

Man who served time in girl's 1999 DUI death gets 8 years in new DUI cases, www.chicagtribune.com, January 7, 2013

Drunken driver who killed girl goes back to prison for more DUIs, www.suntimes.com, January 7, 2013