Chicago DUI Lawyer Blog

Onofrio Lorusso, 19, pled guilty in a Kane County court Wednesday to one count of reckless homicide and three counts of aggravated driving under the influence. The charges relate to a June 14, 2009 crash which resulted in the death of passenger Cameron Godee of West Chicago. Godee was Lorusso’s best friend. Prosecutors allege that Lorusso was driving 77 mph in a 25 mph zone in St. Charles when his vehicle skid off the road hitting a mailbox, two trees, and a parked car. Godee died at the scene and two additional passengers were seriously injured. Tests showed a blood-alcohol level of 0.227, almost three times the legal limit for Illinois drivers age twenty-one or over. Chemical tests also found traces of marijuana in Lorusso’s system at the time of the accident.

The judge has allowed Lorusso to stay out on bond in order to finish his current semester at Robert Morris College in Chicago. Sentencing is scheduled for May 13, where Lorusso will face up to fourteen years in prison. Lorusso’s defense attorney hopes for probation based on Lorusso’s age, guilty plea and clean history.

Wayne man pleads guilty in crash that killed W. Chicago passenger, DailyHerald.com, March 31, 2010

Nineteen year old Steven Hanner was found guilty Friday of aggravated DUI, resulting from a 2006 crash that killed another man. Hanner was accused of pulling in the path of a motorcycle driven by Ronald Hale. Court records indicate that six different drugs including marijuana, cocaine and methamphetamine were found in Hanner’s system after the accident.

A Mt. Vernon jury deliberated for over 8-hours before reaching a verdict shortly before midnight. Hanner was tried as an adult and convicted of both aggravated DUI as well as marijuana possession. A sentencing date has not been set, but Hanner will face between three and fourteen years in prison. Hanner’s criminal defense attorney argued that Hanner should be allowed to remain free on bail until the sentencing hearing, but his request was denied.

Man convicted in deadly southern Ill. wreck, ABCLocal.com, March 29, 2010

Eddie Lumpkin, of Chicago, has been accused of driving with alcohol, cannabis, and cocaine in his system, resulting in a crash that killed a 6-year-old girl last month. The Cook County State’s Attorney will prosecute Lumpkin for reckless homicide, two counts of aggravated DUI causing death and six counts of aggravated DUI causing bodily harm.

The charges stem from a car crash on February 16th that killed Jada Washington. Washington and her aunt, 21-year-old Tiuette Richardson, were on their way to buy candy at a store when prosecutors allege Lumpkin came speeding southbound on Ashland Avenue. After hitting both Washington and Richardson, who were on the median, Lumpkin allegedly failed a field sobriety test and subsequent chemical testing. Two 40-ounce beer bottles were found in Lumpkin’s vehicle, one was open.

Court records show that since 1987, Lumpkin has received approximately forty tickets for offenses such as disregarding a stop sign and operating a motor vehicle without insurance. Lumpkin’s criminal defense attorney defends his client’s actions on that evening and says that the evidence will show that his client was sober.