SOBERING SENTENCES

February 9: Marcus D. Lietz, 30, was sentenced by Union County Judge Charles Caveness to four years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for Aggravated DUI. The charge was based on driving under the influence while his license was revoked for a prior DUI. He was also sentenced to a concurrent term of three years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for an earlier Aggravated DUI. Assistant State’s Attorney Kelley Zuber prosecuted this case.

February 16: Kevin M. O’Reilly, 49, was sentenced by McHenry County Judge Sharon Prather to seven years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for the Class X Felony Aggravated DUI. The defendant was convicted by a jury in September for a June 2006 incident where he was stopped after nearly running a McHenry County Deputy off the road. The defendant refused field sobriety, chemical and a breathalyzer exam. Deputies also found a water bottle that smelled of alcohol in the passenger compartment of the truck. This was the defendant’s sixth DUI. The jury quickly returned the verdict of guilty in the case prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorneys Ryan Blackney and Michael Combs.

February 26: Franklin E. Hollingsworth, 63, was sentenced by Edgar County Judge Steven L. Garst to four years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for the Class 2 Felony Aggravated DUI. He will also serve a consecutive term of 30 months probation for a Class 3 Aggravated DUI. The case was handled by Assistant State’s Attorney Allen Bell.

March 24: David Prescott, 51, was sentenced to ten years in the Illinois Department of Corrections following a conviction for his seventh DUI offense. This was charged as a Class X Felony. Prescott was arrested after being observed operating an ATV on the roadway. He was returning from a trip to the local liquor store. Assistant State’s Attorney Ryan Blackney asked for an extended sentence based on the defendant’s prior history.