Chicago DUI Lawyer Blog

At the Rolling Meadows Courthouse, Betty Burden, 55, plead guilty to aggravated DUI and admitted she was drunk when she drove students home from school last March. Burden delivered nearly 45 Lions Park Elementary School students to their homes along nearly a seven mile route.

Burden failed a field sobriety test and was found to have a Blood Alcohol Level of nearly three times that legal limit at .226 percent. She admitted drinking vodka and orange juice before driving the children home.

Burden and her supervisor were both fired following the incident. Burden's supervisor had checked on her after getting a report that she might have been drinking but did not immediately contact the police.

Burden unsuccessfully tried to have the DUI charges dismissed which ultimately lead to her guilty plea. On January 26, 2011 a judge sentenced her to 30 months probation, 480 hours of community service and a fine of $1,720.00. Burden must also comply with any recommendations for alcohol treatment.

Dist. 57 school bus driver pleads guilty to driving drunk, www.dailyherald.com, January 5, 2011

Driver Sheraz Kahn, 24, was stopped at a downtown Hinsdale's gas station after police officers received a complaint about a dark-colored Honda driving recklessly. Khan was arrested for driving under the influence of cannabis after he failed a field sobriety test and officers allegedly smelled a strong odor of burnt cannabis coming from inside the car.

Along with him were two passengers, Robert Ixta, 19 and Katherine Sampang, 20. Ixta was charged with possession of cannabis and unlawful use of a driver's license. Sampang was charged with interfering with a police officer after providing a false name. Sampang was not in possession of anything illegal.

3 arrested after report of reckless driving, www.triblocal.com, January 12, 2011

The son of Illinois Senate President John Cullerton pleaded guilty in Cook County traffic court to DUI.

Garritt Cullerton, 27, was sentenced to two years of conditional discharge plus mandatory alcohol treatment, 240 hours of community service and $1250 in fines. His drivers license has been revoked.

Cullerton was caught driving under the influence in his fathers's state-owned 2009 Ford Escape on April 18 of last year. He was found to have a blood alcohol level of .188. Cullerton was charged two previous times with DUI but records show the charges were reduced or dropped. This is his first DUI conviction. Cullerton's father stated that he was not authorized to use the vehicle.

Ill. senate president's son pleads guilty to DUI, www.chicago.cbslocal.com, January 7, 2011
Cullerton's son pleads guilty to DUI, www.suntimes.com, January 8, 2011

Michael Adam Musick, 47, of Buffalo Grove was pulled over by police on January 6 for allegedly speeding 37 mph in a 25 mph zone. After an officer attempted to issue him tickets for speeding as well as driving without a license, Musick allegedly became verbally combative with the officers and refused to sign the tickets.

The Buffalo Grove officers left the tickets on Musick's windshield and returned to their vehicles, but Musick allegedly tried to block them from pulling away. After the officers went around his vehicle, he allegedly chased and tailgated them in his SUV. Musick was pulled over again by the officers with their weapons drawn and removed from his vehicle. As a result, he was additionally charged with reckless conduct.

Buffalo Grove man arrested for chasing cops, www.suntimes.com, January 18, 2011

Tahir Malik,47, of Skokie has been held at the Cook County Jail since December 17 on contempt of court and two felony counts of false impersonation.

Authorities believe Malik represented over 60 clients and charged them $500 to $4500 cash per case. Malik represented clients in traffic court, mortgage foreclosure and low-level criminal cases. Some of his clients have been identified and contacted to determine how much they have paid. Malik's bond was set at $250,000.

Malik was familiar with the court system due to his own arrest history. He has been convicted in the past of burglary and served time in prison. Malik has also been charged with theft, shoplifting and criminal trespass.

A hotline has been established for others who may have been affected. Anyone who was falsely represented by Malik is asked to call (773) 869-6466.

Skokie man posed as lawyer, authorities say, www.chicagotribune.com, January 7, 2011
Bogus lawyer handled 60 cases: cop, www.suntimes.com, January 8, 2011

The son of a Harvey police commander was charged with Aggravated Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle and Aggravated Reckless Driving after allegedly crashing a stolen city owned vehicle into another car outside of Ingalls Memorial Hospital. The driver of the other vehicle was seriously injured.

The vehicle driven by Divonne Keel, a 2003 Ford Explorer, was assigned to his father. The injured motorist, Donna Stroup, 59, was taken to Ingalls Hospital for treatment. She was listed in serious condition due to a fractured sternum and internal bleeding.

In a statement by Sandra Alvarado, Harvey police spokeswoman, said the commander told prosecutors his son had stolen the SUV. Alvarado said investigators are working with the Cook County States Attorney's office to make sure the teen is "prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," and added that police are also conducting an internal investigation as to the commander.

Son of Harvey cop charged with stealing city SUV, www.chicagobreakingnews.com, January 4, 2011

Betty Burden, a former Mt. Prospect school bus driver pleaded guilty to aggravated DUI on Wednesday at the Rolling Meadows courthouse. Burden admitted in court that she was intoxicated when she drove students home from school last spring.

Burden had maintained her innocence since her arrest. Police claim she failed a field sobriety test and showed a BAC of .226, almost three times the legal limit. Burden as well as her supervisor have been fired from Mt. Prospect School District 57. She faces probation or up to three years in prison. She will be sentenced January 26th at Rolling Meadows.

Ex-Mount Prospect school bus driver guilty of DUI, chicagotribune.com, January 5, 2011

School Bus Driver Betty Burden Pleads Guilty to DUI While Kids on Board, myfoxchicago.com, January 5, 2011

The Cook County Sheriff's police are accused of removing the clothes and photographing a DUI crash victim on the side of the road in plain sight of onlookers without justification. Jessica Mejia was killed in a car crash on New Year's Eve 2009 near Oak Forest. Her ex-boyfriend, Nicholas Sord, is charged with reckless homicide and DUI. Sord allegedly had a BAC of .236 when he drove his Mercedes SUV into a pole. He is currently awaiting trial on the criminal charges.

The family of Jessica Mejia filed the suit against the police, claiming severe and extreme distress due to the inappropriate photos that were taken on the scene. The family seeks more than $200,000. The Cook County sheriff's department denies the allegations.

Suit: Cops took nude photos of DUI crash victim, suntimes.com, December 30, 2010

Eric Barth, 21, has been charged with six counts of aggravated DUI and accused of causing a three-vehicle crash in Kane County. Barth was driving a Chevy pickup truck when he allegedly veered into the opposite lane of traffic and crashed head-on into a GMC Yukon SUV. A Hyundai Sonata was unable to avoid the collision and crashed into the two vehicles. Investigators believe the icy road conditions may have contributed.

The two occupants of the GMC Yukon - a 64-year-old man and 69-year-old woman - were taken to an Elgin hospital where they were both listed in critical condition. Barth was treated at the hospital and then arrested. The passengers of the Hyundai were treated and released in stable condition.

Barth was also cited with several traffic violations, including driving without a drivers license. His BAC was more than three times the legal limit at .27.

A judge ordered Barth held in lieu of $1 million bond. Prosecutors in court mentioned that Barth currently has a pending DUI case in Ohio.

Ohio man charged with DUI in Kane County Crash, www.chicagobreakingnews.com, December 30, 2010