McHenry County Blog

A press release from McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi:

TAMMY NEWSOME SENTENCED TO FOUR YEARS IN THE PENITENTIARY

Louis A. Bianchi, McHenry County State’s Attorney, announces that Tammy Newsome, 49, of Lake in the Hills, was sentenced today to four years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for the class 2 felony offense of Aggravated Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol.

The Defendant pled guilty in May to driving on McHenry Avenue and Randall Road, near Crystal Lake, while under the influence of alcohol.

When officers attempted to stop her, she fled, but was apprehended at Alexandra Boulevard.

In sentencing her to the Department of Corrections, the Court declined to impose the minimum three-year term. Instead, the Court found that the defendant’s conduct posed a serious risk of harm to the officers involved in her pursuit, and that a lesser sentence would threaten public safety.

This case was investigated by the Crystal Lake Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorney Matt Ciesielski.

A press release from the McHenry County State’s Attorney:

McHENRY RESIDENT SENTENCED TO FOUR YEARS TO THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS FOR AGGRAVATED DUI

Louis A. Bianchi, McHenry County State’s Attorney announces that on March 27, 2012, Defendant, Sandra Brazlawski was sentenced to four years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for the offense of Aggravated Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol.

The Defendant was arrested by the McHenry Police Department for DUI in July 3, 2011.

Further investigation into her driving history revealed multiple prior convictions for Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol under two different names.

The case was investigated by Officer Harris of the McHenry Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorney David Johnston.

A press release from the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office:

CRYSTAL LAKE MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO AGGRAVATED DUI CAUSING DEATH CHARGE

WOODSTOCK – Louis A. Bianchi, McHenry County State’s Attorney, announces today that Uri C. Herrera-Garcia, 24, of Crystal Lake, entered a plea of guilty to one count of Aggravated Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol Causing Death (Class 2 Felony).

Uri C. Herrera-Garcia

In the late evening hours of October 25, 2009, Uri Herrera-Garcia drove a vehicle on Rte. 120 at Tijuana Drive in Lakemoor, Illinois.

He lost control of his vehicle that drove off the roadway and collided with a tree off of the roadway.

A passenger in the vehicle, Leonardo Elias (dob: 2/18/91), perished as a result of the injuries he received during this accident.0

Mr. Herrera-Garcia was found at the scene of the crash and had blood on his face.

Later hospital toxicology testing, as well as police testing, revealed a blood alcohol level in Mr. Herrera-Garcia that was greater than 0.08.

Mr. Herrera-Garcia later admitted to Crystal Lake police officers when arrested on a warrant to driving the motor vehicle involved in this case.

A DNA test performed on the air bag of the vehicle the defendant was driving matched the DNA belonging to Mr. Herrera-Garcia.

Mr. Herrera-Garcia’s next court date is April 15, 2011, where a sentence will be imposed. This offense is probationable, and if prison is imposed, there is a range of 3 to 14 years in prison. Mr. Herrera-Garcia would be required to serve 85% of any prison sentence before being eligible for parole.

McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi continues his campaign against drunk drivers, as is evidenced by the following press release:

WOODSTOCK WOMAN PLEADS GUILTY TO AGGRAVATED DUI

CAUSING DEATH

Louis A. Bianchi, McHenry County State’s Attorney, announces that Tania Cederholm, 35, of Woodstock, entered a plea of guilty to one count of Aggravated Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol Causing Death—a class 2 felony.

Location of the accident, east of Marengo

In the late evening hours of February 21, 2007, Tania Cederholm drove her vehicle northbound on Dunham Rd. At the intersection of 176 and Dunham, Cederholm’s vehicle entered into the intersection, pulling in front of an oncoming vehicle that was traveling eastbound and was being driven by David LeJeune of Rockford.

After striking Cederholm’s vehicle, Mr. LeJeune’s vehicle spun into the oncoming lane of westbound traffic and was struck by a third vehicle.

Mr. LeJeune later died due to the injuries he sustained. Other persons involved in the three car collision received non-life threatening injuries.

Ms. Cederholm’s blood alcohol content (BAC) was determined to be .246 based on a toxicology screen performed during her medical treatment. Ms. Cederholm had a prior DUI violation from 2004.

Ms. Cederholm’s next court date is February 10, 2011, where a date will be set for sentencing. This offense is probationable, and if prison is imposed, there is a range of 3 to 14 years in prison. Ms. Cederholm would be required to serve 85% of any prison sentence before being eligible for parole.

This case was investigated by Sgt. Karen Groves of the McHenry County Sheriff’s Department, and was prosecuted by Phil Hiscock and Ryan Blackney of the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office.

Crystal Lake law enforcement officers found three percent of late night drivers on the Tuesday and Wednesday between Christmas and New Year’s Eve were intoxicated.

Three out of the ninety-nine vehicles stopped had alcohol impaired drivers. Forty-one citations were issued.

The effort was financed by a $1,375.08 grant from the Illinois Department of Transportation.  The press release follows:

The Crystal Lake Police and Crystal Lake Park District Police Departments Joined “You Drink and Drive, You Lose” to Reduce Roadway Fatalities

Roadside Safety Check Enforcement – Results

During overnight hours from December 28th, to the 29th, 2010, The Crystal Lake Police Department, along with the Crystal Lake Park District Police, conducted a Roadside Safety Checkpoint Enforcement campaign.

This event was part of the Illinois Department of Transportation’s (IDOT) Sustained Traffic Enforcement Program conducted for the Christmas-New Year’s holiday. Law enforcement agencies throughout Illinois participated in this statewide effort to save lives by removing impaired drivers off our roads and to encourage more motorists to buckle up during late-night hours.

During the four hour event; from 11:00 PM until 3:00 AM, Officers checked ninety-five vehicles traveling along US Rt. 14 for signs of impairment and safety violations.

The joint effort resulted in the issuance of a total of forty-one traffic citations, and the arrests of eight subjects. Citations issued were for

• seatbelt violations
• operation of uninsured motor vehicles
• motor vehicle equipment violation
• driver’s license violations and
• driving while under the influence of alcohol.

Three motorists were arrested for DUI, and four others were charged with drug offenses.

The recent law enforcement crackdown was funded by federal traffic safety funds through IDOT’s Division of Traffic Safety and is part of the statewide “You Drink & Drive. You Lose” and “Click It or Ticket” campaigns.

More such events are planned for throughout the upcoming year.

Below is a press release from the Harvard Police Department about how it spent a  state grant to go after intoxicated drivers:

Illinois Department of Transportation STEP Grant

In September, the Harvard Police Department was awarded an Illinois Department of Transportation grant for a Sustained Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP).

STEP is a year-round campaign to combat intoxicated driving and promote occupant protection. The grant allows the Harvard Police Department to hire back officers to conduct roving, saturation patrols in an effort to reduce night time driving accidents, fatalities and impaired driving.

The first campaign was a 24-hour hire back.

This campaign ran from November 11th until November 26th and resulted in

• two arrests for Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol,
• one arrest for Driving While Suspended, two citations for No Insurance and
• seven other citations.

The second campaign commences December 17th and will run until the beginning of January.

The Harvard Police Department would like to remind our motoring community to utilize seat belts and child restraints during this holiday season.

Furthermore, during the holiday season, partygoers are encouraged to designate a driver or make other arrangements to avoid driving under the influence of alcohol or other intoxicants.

The Harvard Police Department wishes our community a safe and joyous holiday season.

Our family was out of town when the Democratic Party candidate for McHenry County Sheriff released the following press release. I was so overwhelmed with emails upon returning, I let it slide.

This is the second shot I took of the verbal altercation bewteen Sheriff Kieth Nygren supporter Brent Smith and Democratic Party candidate for Sheriff Mike Mahon. Independent judicial candidate Sally Wiggins, in red top and jeans, was a bystander.

With Nunda Township Republican Central Committee Chairman Brent Smith making it clear at the County Fair that incumbent Republican Keith Nygren will make the arrest an issue in the fall campaign, I thought it would be a good idea to share that long-ago press release with readers of McHenry County Blog.

Thanks to Green Party candidate for Sheriff Gus Philpott, who writes “Woodstock Advocate,” for allowing me to copy his post.

Here is the press release:

During a McHenry Marlin's swim meet, the McHenry Business Expo was taking place next door in the gym. I found Mike Mahon gretting voters at his booth down from the Sheriff's Department booth, which was manned by a uniformed deputy.

“On my own initiative and under no requirement to do so, but in the interest of full disclosure to the voters of McHenry County, I am disclosing an 18-year-old incident with a timely lesson as the holiday season approaches.

“In December of 1991 I was charged with driving under the influence in Cook County. At the time of the incident, I was in my personal vehicle and off duty. There was no one with me in the car, no collision and no one was injured in any manner. No breathalyzer was deployed.

“I pleaded ‘no contest’ to the charge and was sentenced to six months of a suspended license. I maintained my employment with Cook County throughout.

“This incident changed my life for the better. Assisted by family and friends, I came to the conclusion that my life would be greatly improved if I stopped drinking alcohol, and did so. I have maintained that abstinence ever since and have assisted others in finding help for similar problems.

“Especially at this time of year, with its many holiday parties and get-togethers, it’s important for all of us to be aware of the temptation to drink and drive both in ourselves and our friends and family.

“Thank you and let’s all have a safe and happy holiday season.”

"Drive drunk and you will face the consequences," could be what McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi is saying here.

Still another press release from the McHenry County State’s Attorney telling of his office’s getting significant sentences for those driving while intoxicated:

SHANNON SCHROEDER SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS IN PRISON FOR AGGRAVATED DUI CAUSING GREAT BODILY HARM

Louis A. Bianchi, McHenry County State’s Attorney, announces that Shannon Schroeder of Marengo was sentenced to 10 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections today pursuant to a negotiated plea of guilty for the offense of Aggravated DUI causing great bodily harm, a Class 4 felony with a sentencing range of between 1 to 12 years.

On September 7, 2008, Schroeder drove a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol and crashed into another vehicle while traveling eastbound on Perkins Road in Seneca Township.  Sheriff’s deputies responded to the scene and noted a strong odor of alcohol on the defendant.

Blood tests taken after the crash showed his blood alcohol level to be .159 – nearly twice the legal limit.

The crash caused serious and life threatening injuries to the driver of the other vehicle, who continues to suffer from the physical effects of the crash.

This was the defendant’s third offense for Driving Under the Influence of alcohol.

The case was investigated by Karen Groves and Alan Sabol of the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office, and prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorneys Ryan Blackney and David Metnick.

Judge Sharon Prather imposed the sentence.

One way of doing that is to send them to prison.

David S. Prescott will be an example of that after having been sentenced to ten years in prison. With time off for good behavior, he’ll be out in half that that.

Here is the press release from McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi’s office:

SEVEN TIME DUI OFFENDER SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS IN THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS

Louis A. Bianchi, McHenry County State’s Attorney, reports that Defendant David S. Prescott was sentenced to 10 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections today following a conviction for his 7th DUI offense.

Prescott was found guilty of the Class X Felony DUI following a 3 day jury trial prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorneys Jeffrey Bora and Ryan Blackney.

On the day of his arrest, Deputy Thomas Jones of the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office witnessed the defendant operating an ATV on a public roadway after leaving a liquor store with a case of beer attached to the rear.

The defendant failed a battery of field sobriety tests and refused to submit to chemical testing.  He was subsequently arrested.

The offense was punishable by a sentence of between 6 and 10 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Noting the defendant to have over 8 prior sentences to the Illinois Department of Corrections, Assistant State’s Attorney Ryan Blackney asked the Court to sentence the defendant to a prison term of 15 years.

The press release from the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office shows that the campaign against drunk drivers in this area is going full speed ahead.

SIXTH TIME DUI OFFENDER SENTENCED TO 7 YEARS PRISON

Louis A. Bianchi, McHenry County State’s Attorney, is pleased to announce that Kevin M. O’Reilly was sentenced to 7 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections as a result of his sixth DUI violation.

The defendant was previously found guilty by a McHenry County Jury following a three day trial.

Testimony at the trial revealed that a McHenry County Sheriff’s Deputy was traveling southbound on East Wonder Lake Road in Wonder Lake when he observed the defendant’s truck weaving and traveling northbound in his lane of traffic.

The squad car was forced off the highway in order to avoid a collision.  O’Reilly refused to submit to field sobriety tests and a breathalyzer.  During a search of the Defendant’s vehicle, police discovered a water bottle that smelled of alcohol.

During the sentencing hearing, Assistant State’s Attorney Ryan Blackney introduced evidence of a 2005 DUI arrest showing that the defendant was involved in a crash resulting in an injured passenger.

Evidence at the hearing also demonstrated that the defendant had never spent any time in jail as a result of his prior DUI offenses.  Mr. Blackney asked that the defendant be sentenced to between 10 – 15 years in the Department of Corrections.  Assistant State’s Attorney Michael Combs also assisted in the Jury Trial.