Sentencing in Highland Park huffing crash delayed again
A Lake County prosecutor requested, then withdrew a motion to revoke the bond a Highland Park woman convicted of running over and killing a 5-year-old girl while “huffing” computer dust cleaner.
Assistant State's Attorney Michael Ori initially asked that Carly Rousso's bond be revoked and that she be taken into custody, after her sentencing hearing was delayed by Judge James Booras until Sept. 17.
Ori said Wednesday he was ready for sentencing to take place this week, but defense attorney Douglas Zeit said he would not be able to produce witnesses in defense of the 20-year-old Rousso on such short notice.
After a heated discussion, Ori withdrew the request just as Booras was preparing to deny it.
“I'm not going to order a defendant to begin their sentence before a sentencing hearing is completed,” Booras said, prompting Ori to reply “It happens all the time ...”
Ori did not comment after the hearing.
Rousso faces 3 to 14 years in prison after she was convicted May 29 on four counts of aggravated driving under the influence of an intoxicating substance. The law also allows for a person to be sentenced to probation should “extraordinary circumstances” exist.
Authorities said Rousso was “huffing” computer dust cleaner while driving her family-owned Lexus east in the 700 block of Central Avenue in Highland Park when she blacked out, swerved across traffic and hit Jaclyn Santos-Sacramento, of Highland Park. The girl was killed in the crash, while her mother and two brothers — who were also hit by Rousso's vehicle — were injured and treated at a hospital.
Rousso pleaded guilty to reckless homicide just before to the start of her trial. She will also be sentenced on that charge during the September hearing.
Rousso has relinquished her passport while remaining free on bond, as ordered by Booras at a previous hearing.