Former St. Charles Corrections Officer Pleads Guilty to Deadly DUI Collision

Reginald Hearon, 50, could find himself serving up to 14 years in prison after pleading guilty to felony DUI and reckless homicide charges stemming from the deadly Kane County crash in 2008.

Hearon driving work at the Illinois Youth Center in St. Charles on the day of the crash when his van slammed head-on into an on-coming car as he allegedly tried to pass several vehicles on a two-lane highway. Craig Smith, 53, from St. Charles was killed in the collision.

A crash reconstruction concluded that Hearon was going at least 10mph over the speed limit and blood test taken after the crash found that he had alcohol, morphine and codeine in his system.

Kane county prosecutors are asking that Hearon receive a prison term when he is sentenced in November, though he is eligible for probation. Hearon has since retired from his corrections job and remains free on bond pending his sentencing.

Former CO pleads guilty in deadly 2008 Ill. DUI collision, www.correctionsone.com, September 24, 2010