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Batavia city economic consultant charged with felony DUI

A former economic development director for Kane County, St. Charles and Geneva, was indicted this week on felony charges he committed his third DUI offense when arrested in January in Geneva after he rear-ended another vehicle, records show.

Christopher C. Aiston, 55, of the 700 block of James Street, Geneva, who serves as an $88,000-per-year independent contractor for Batavia, is charged with aggravated DUI.

Defense attorney Kenneth Johnson said his client was not impaired Jan. 22 and will fight the charges.

"I'm of the opinion that he is not guilty of these charges and we will be fighting on behalf of him to prove that," Johnson said.

Aiston was arrested after he rear-ended another vehicle on State Street in Geneva. He also was ticketed for failure to reduce speed, according to court records.

Information regarding Aiston's two previous DUI arrests was not immediately available; Johnson declined to comment on those arrests.

Aiston has been free on bond since his January arrest and does not have to surrender at the Kane County jail, Johnson said.

Aiston is next due in court July 17.

Batavia officials inked Aiston to a contract last fall to serve as an independent contractor in the city's economic development department.

Before that, he served as economic development director for the city of St. Charles from November 2009 to July 2013, according to his resume on the Batavia website.

Aiston also served as economic development director for Kane County September 2007 to November 2009, and held the same position in Geneva from October 1996 to September 2007.

He also was planning and zoning director in DeKalb County from 1990 to 1996.

If convicted of the felony charge, Aiston could face anywhere from three to seven years in prison. Probation also is an option.

Contacted via email Tuesday, Aiston deferred comments to his attorney.

Batavia Mayor Jeff Schielke said Aiston's contract does not have a morality clause but may be terminated at any time. Schielke said he wanted to see how the case was resolved in court.

"He's been charged and he hasn't been tried (in court) yet," Schielke said. "He's been a very good employee with the city. We've never had any issues with him. We have to wait and see what happens."

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