CONVICTED
January 19: Earl G. Wilkison, 58, of Elburn pleaded guilty to Aggravated DUI Causing Death based upon an October 11, 2008 crash in which he ran a stop sign, colliding with a pick-up truck driven by Ryan Campbell, 24. Campbell died as a result of injuries sustained in the crash. Chemical testing indicated the defendant’s BAC was over the legal limit of 0.08. Kane County Assistant State’s Attorney Adam Katz asked Judge Allen Anderson to revoke Wilkison’s bond and have him taken into custody to await sentencing. Judge Anderson, however, allowed Wilkison to remain free, imposing stricter bond requirements. Judge Anderson will be responsible for sentencing the defendant who is eligible for 3–14 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. Probation may only be granted in extraordinary circumstances.
February 19: Thomas Ofenloch, 26, pleaded guilty to two counts of Aggravated DUI Causing Death and one count of DUI stemming from a 2007 crash that killed his two friends, Joshua Sutton and Andrew Berger, both 21. Chemical testing revealed a BAC of 0.101 and marijuana in his system. He faces 6-28 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections at sentencing scheduled in April.
February 22: Kimberly L. Chaney, 37, pleaded guilty in Fulton County to one count of Aggravated DUI Causing Death for the August 9, 2009 crash that killed John Stevenson, 49, and seriously injured Gary Baker. The two men were walking along the side of the road looking for a bag that had fallen out of the bed of their pickup. Another vehicle saw them and avoided them, but the defendant, who was driving with a BAC of 0.203 failed to reduce speed and hit the rear of the victims’ truck. Sentencing was scheduled to take place in April.
February 22: Jamie D. Duhs, 18, pleaded guilty in Peoria County to one Count of Aggravated DUI Causing Death for the October 16, 2009 crash that killed her friend 18 year-old Ashlyn Payne. The two were refused entrance into a concert at Three Sisters Park earlier in the evening because they were intoxicated. Deputy Sheriff’s next encountered the defendant at the scene of a crash on Route 29 where she saw the police car and fled. Investigation revealed the defendant was driving in excess of 100 miles per hour just before losing control and hitting a tree. She had a BAC of 0.213. The prosecutor handling this case is Assistant State’s Attorney Jeff Manderscheid.
