McHenry County Blog

McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi continued his efforts to keep drunk drivers off the road…for a long time.

The press release below says Assistant Ryan Blackney requested 12-15 years for Steven St. John. The judge sentenced him to seven for his 7th offense.

SEVEN TIME DUI OFFENDER SENTENCED TO 7 YEARS IN THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS  
 
Louis A. Bianchi, McHenry County State’s Attorney, is pleased to announce that Defendant Steven St. John was sentenced to 7 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections today following a conviction for his 7th DUI offense. 

St. John was found guilty of the Class X DUI after a three day jury trial prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorneys Ryan Blackney and Simeon Kim. 

On the night of his arrest, the defendant was observed leaving a Crystal Lake tavern and entering his vehicle. While operating his vehicle, he then repeatedly collided with a parked vehicle.

Law enforcement subsequently detained him and then and charged him with driving under the influence of alcohol.

The defendant faced a mandatory minimum sentence of 6 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections with a maximum range of 30 years. 

Assistant State’s Attorney Ryan Blackney asked the Court to sentence the defendant to a prison term of 12-15 years.

Here’s a press release about the latest conviction by the Office of McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi:

DUI OFFENDER WITH 5 PRIOR DUI’S SENTENCED TO SIX YEARS IN PRISON

McHenry County State’s Attorney Louis A. Bianchi is pleased to announce that defendant Kurt Boyle was convicted of his 6th DUI today and sentenced to 6 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

A Lake in the Hills patrol officer discovered the defendant slumped over the steering wheel of his car in a retail parking lot.

The defendant upon having contact with the officer, stated,

“You got me.”

In Illinois, defendant’s who are convicted of their 6th DUI offense are considered Class X felons. They face a sentencing range of 6 – 30 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorney Simeon Kim.

The following press release has been received from the office of McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi:

JURY FINDS SEVEN TIME DUI OFFENDER
GUILTY OF CLASS X FELONY

McHenry County State’s Attorney, Louis A. Bianchi, is pleased to announce that after a three day trial today a jury returned a guilty verdict in the case of People vs. Steven St. John.

The defendant was observed leaving a Crystal Lake tavern and after getting into his vehicle, repeatedly collided with a parked vehicle.

He was subsequently detained by officers from the Crystal Lake Police Department and charged with driving under the influence for the seventh time.

The case was prosecuted for the State by Assistant State’s Attorney’s Ryan Blackney and Simeon Kim.

The conviction was for a Class X felony violation of driving under the influence of alcohol. The defendant faces a mandatory minimum of 6 years in the custody of the Illinois Department of Corrections with a possibility of being sentenced up to 30 years.

The defendant was also found guilty of a class 4 felony of driving while license revoked.

This case underscores the problem and dangers caused by repeat offenders who do not get the message that drinking and driving will not be tolerated. Those who choose to break the law will be vigorously prosecuted for the protection of the public. One death or injury caused by a DUI driver is one too many and the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office will prosecute those who drink and drive in violation of the law and jeopardize the public safety to the fullest extent possible.

McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi has sent a press release announcing a new attorney in the Felony Division. His name is Simeon Kim.

Previously, he worked for the Kane and Cole County State’s Attorneys, the Illinois Attorney General and the DuPage County Public Defenders’ Office.

The press release follows:

McHenry County State’s Attorney Louis A. Bianchi is pleased to announce that Simeon Kim has joined the Felony Division of the State’s Attorney’s Office. Simeon Kim is a 1997 Graduate from Southern Illinois University College of Law where he was a published member of the Law Review. He obtained his LLM in taxation from DePaul College of Law in 2007.

Simeon was most recently employed by the Illinois Attorney General’s Office in Chicago where he prosecuted multi-jurisdictional felony drug cases statewide.

He was previously employed by the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office where he first-chaired felony jury trials and was also in charge of the felony review unit. Simeon was also employed by DuPage County Public Defenders’s Office and the Cole County State’s Attorney’s Office, where he prosecuted and defended a wide range of criminal cases.

In addition, he is a veteran of the United States Army.

McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi has sent a press release announcing a new attorney in the Felony Division. His name is Simeon Kim.

Previously, he worked for the Kane and Cole County State’s Attorneys, the Illinois Attorney General and the DuPage County Public Defenders’ Office.

The press release follows:

McHenry County State’s Attorney Louis A. Bianchi is pleased to announce that Simeon Kim has joined the Felony Division of the State’s Attorney’s Office. Simeon Kim is a 1997 Graduate from Southern Illinois University College of Law where he was a published member of the Law Review. He obtained his LLM in taxation from DePaul College of Law in 2007.

Simeon was most recently employed by the Illinois Attorney General’s Office in Chicago where he prosecuted multi-jurisdictional felony drug cases statewide.

He was previously employed by the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office where he first-chaired felony jury trials and was also in charge of the felony review unit. Simeon was also employed by DuPage County Public Defenders’s Office and the Cole County State’s Attorney’s Office, where he prosecuted and defended a wide range of criminal cases.

In addition, he is a veteran of the United States Army.