CHARGED
* Individuals charged with criminal offenses are presumed innocent of the charges against them until proven guilty in a court of law. These are allegations only and should not be considered as proof against the defendant.
January 17: Timothy W. Quinlan, 47, was charged in Shelby County with the charges of Driving Under the Influence (DUI) and Improper Lane Usage for an early evening crash that killed Lynne M. Polette, 24, and her passenger, David J. McGavic, 28. The defendant crossed into the oncoming lane of traffic, striking the victims’ vehicle. The charges have since been upgraded to four counts of Aggravated DUI Causing Death. In cases where more than one person is killed, the offense is a class 2 felony punishable by 6–28 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
January 19: Matthew Talavera, 23, was charged with Aggravated DUI Causing Death and Reckless Homicide for an early morning crash on the Northwest Side of Chicago. Police indicated the defendant’s Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) was 0.270, over 3 times the legal limit, when he lost control of the Dodge Durango he was driving and slammed into a Jeep. The victim and friend of the defendant, Richard Smart, 24, was ejected from the car and pronounced dead at the scene.
January 21: Matthew L. Webster, 34, is facing numerous charges, including Aggravated DUI Causing Death and Reckless Homicide for an early evening crash that claimed the life of 51-year old William Churchman. The crash occurred on Illinois Route 16, approximately one mile east of Illinois Route 100, when the defendant lost control of his car and swerved into the lane of oncoming traffic.
January 25: Michael D. Russell, 58, was charged with one count of Aggravated DUI Causing Death and two counts of Aggravated DUI Causing Great Bodily Harm after a head on collision in which one person was killed and two others were injured. The defendant was westbound on U.S. 150 when he crossed into the oncoming lanes and hit another car head on. Bradley Collier, a passenger in the defendant’s car, died as a result of his injuries.
January 31: Donald E. Rericka, 47, was charged with the offense of Aggravated DUI Causing Great Bodily Harm for seriously injuring a Geneva woman who was struck by a falling tree as a result of a vehicle driven by the defendant. The defendant refused field sobriety testing and chemical testing when officers arrived on the scene of the crash. St. Charles police obtained a search warrant for a blood draw, which ultimately revealed a BAC over the legal limit.
February 5: Daniel Hong was arrested for the offense of Aggravated DUI as a repeat offender after Arlington Heights Police stopped the defendant for erratic driving. This is the 27-year old defendant’s fourth arrest. He has prior DUI offenses in Hawaii, Alaska and in Illinois. Bond was set at $80,000.
February 16: Eddie Lumpkin, 48, was charged with Reckless Homicide and two counts of Aggravated DUI (Causing Death and Great Bodily Harm) in a crash that killed six year-old Jada Washington and seriously injured her 21 year-old aunt, Tiuette Richardson. Reports and statements at the bond hearing indicated that the defendant had cocaine and marijuana in his system. He struck the two pedestrians as they crossed the street heading for the local market. The defendant was reported to have failed field sobriety tests. Media accounts indicate that the defendant has received about 40 traffic tickets but still had a valid license. Bond remained at $500,000 after the hearing.
March 9: Betty A. Burden, 53, has been charged with multiple counts of Aggravated DUI for driving a school bus occupied by children while under the influence of alcohol. While no bad driving was observed the stop was conducted due to a complaint from a co-worker who smelled an odor of alcohol coming from the defendant prior to the start of her route. Charging documents indicate that the defendant had a BAC of 0.226 after her route was completed.
March 10: Reginald Hearon, 50, was indicted and arraigned on counts of Aggravated DUI Causing Death and Reckless Homicide for a 2008 crash that killed Craig Smith. The crash occurred when the defendant tried to pass several cars in a no-passing zone on a two lane road in unincorporated Kane County. The charges came after what the State’s Attorney indicated was a “lengthy” investigation. The defendant was alleged to be under the influence of codeine and alcohol. The defendant’s bond is set at $500,000.
