Chicago DUI Lawyer Blog

Luis Benito, 17, has been charged with four counts of aggravated DUI and reckless homicide and could face up to 14 years each on the two most serious counts against him. Judge Marzell Richardson set his bond at $1 million dollars.

Benito had allegedly been drinking at a nightclub, Rancho Santa Fe. Shortly before the crash, Benito was seen doing "donuts" in the Bolingbrook nightclub's parking lot. After a bouncer from Rancho Santa Fe pointed his flashlight at Benito, the teen allegedly drove the 2002 Chevy Blazer directly at him, forcing him to dodge the vehicle.

At around 2:30 a.m., Benito and another passenger headed home, deciding to park between two apartment buildings because the main parking lots were full. However, the SUV allegedly sped through a garden-level apartment window fatally crushing Josephina Prospero. Prospero, 46, who was asleep in her bed was pronounced dead at the scene. Benito's mother and Prospero worked together at a local hotel and were friends.

According to a hospital blood draw Benito's Blood Alcohol Level was .204, more than twice the legal limit.

17 year old accused of driving SUV into apartment, crushing woman asleep inside, www.chicagotribune.com, November 15, 2010

$1 million bond for teen charged in DUI that killed sleeping woman, www.examiner.com, November 15, 2010

Jeremiah Thompson, 36, has been charged with DUI and other violations for a hit-and-run that resulted in the death of a 35-year old woman.

Yasha Hicks was allegedly struck and killed as she walked near 73rd and South Racine. Thompson reportedly took off after the accident and left Hicks in the roadway. Hicks was pronounced dead at Christ Advocate Medical Center in Oak Lawn.

Police later caught up with Thompson charged him with Aggravated DUI-accident resulting in death, DUI with a blood alcohol content above 0.08, failure to reduce speed, improper lane usage, failure to take due care with pedestrian in roadway, and operating a vehicle without insurance.

Man charged with DUI in hit and run accident that killed South Side woman, www.chicagobreakingnews.com, November 8, 2010

Lumertious Dupree, 39, of the 6300 block of South Evans Avenue allegedly crashed into a fire truck after eluding police while driving under the influence of alcohol. Dupree injured himself and two firefighters.

Dupree's Blood Alcohol Content was nearly three times the legal limit at .225 percent. He has been charged with felony aggravated DUI, fleeing the police, and several traffic violations, including reckless driving.

Both vehicles were traveling south on Lafayette when Dupree's vehicle hit the back of the fire truck. The two injured firefighters were transported in good condition to Little Company of Mary Hospital and Dupree was taken in serious-to-critical condition to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn.

Man charged in crash that injured himself, 2 firefighters, www.chicagobreakingnews.com, November 7, 2010

Chicago police responded immediately when shots were fired in the Logan Square community just before 3:00 a.m. last Saturday morning.

Jacob Vega, 36, was allegedly spotted fleeing the scene the wrong way on a one-way street in a four-door sedan by an Area Five Detective who was in the vicinity of Diversey and Mozart. The suspect continued in the vehicle disregarding stop signs and eventually discarding a large silver handgun out of the driver's side window.

Detectives and 14th district officers curbed the vehicle on the 2900 block of W George. Vega was taken into custody and has been charged with one felony county of Unlawful Use of a Weapon by a Felon, Driving the Wrong Way on a One-Way Street, Driving without Headlights, Reckless Driving, Driving on a Revoked License, and Operating a Motor Vehicle without Insurance. The weapon was recovered without incident.

After further investigation, several witnesses identified Vega as the offender who fired shots from the sedan. Vega was scheduled to appear in bond court on November 7, 2010.

Man accused of firing shots in Logan Square, www.chicagobreakingnews.com, November 6, 2010

Crime: (Logan Square) Convicted felon charged with firing weapon, www.hispanicallyspeakingnews.com, November 8, 2010

Homero Morales, 45, attempted to escape the Aurora police lockup Sunday morning after being arrested for a DUI. Morales's hands were cuffed while he was being processed when he tried to run form the building but the office caught up with him. As they struggles, Morales overpowered the officer and used the chains on his handcuffs to try and strangle him.

Several other Aurora police officers had to pull Morales off the victim. Along with his DUI, Morales is charged with attempted murder, attempted escape, aggravated battery to a corrections employee and aggravated battery. The injured officer suffered a broken thumb and numerous cuts and bruises.

Police: Aurora man choked officer during escape attempt, www.dailyherald.com, October 26, 2010

22-year-old, Doreen Cardenas, and a 22-year-old man she was with were rushed to the hospital after being struck by a car in an early morning hit and run in North Aurora. Cardenas was pronounced dead at Provena-Mercy Hospital at 2:35 a.m. The man remained hospitalized but his condition was not made available.

The couple were standing outside the driver's side of Cardena's parked 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier when a vehicle allegedly side-swiped the car and struck them. A bystander found the two victims lying in the street at 42 S Grant Street.

At approximately 5 a.m., Lee Roy Patterson, a 30-year-old Aurora man, walked into the Aurora Police department and turned himself in. Patterson has been charged with leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident involving a death, an additional count of leaving the scene where a person was injured, and failing to reduce speed to avoid an accident. Patterson faces a Class 1 felony which is punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

Aurora Lt. Scott Buziecki said the crash remained under investigation. "We have not ruled out drugs or alcohol," he said.

Woman killed, man hurt in North Aurora hit run, www.dailyherald.com, October 25, 2010

A 22 year old man was arrested for allegedly driving under the influence after a police officer saw him hunched over his steering wheel while sitting at a green light.

The officer walked up to the truck and tapped on the drivers window, at which point the man opened his eyes. Police said the car smelled of alcohol and the man had a hard time keeping his eyes open. He was arrested and taken to the Tinley Park Police Department after failing field sobriety tests. The Tinley Park officer reported he had a blood alcohol content of .225, well over the legal limit.

The man stated that he had been drinking with co-workers and thought he was driving westbound on 67th Street in Chicago. Police officers reported that he was actually facing south on Oak Park Avenue at the intersection of 183rd Street.

He was also charged with driving on a suspended license, which was revoked for a previous DUI.

Man arrested for alleged DUI after sitting at a green light with eyes closed, www.triblocal.com, October 21, 2010