Trial set for Elgin man charged in fatal crash
An Elgin man is scheduled to face trial Aug. 10 on charges alleging he was fleeing from police while under the influence of drugs and alcohol when his car slammed into a minivan and killed its driver.
Steven Luellen, 34, could be sentenced to as many as 14 years in prison if found guilty of an aggravated driving under the influence charge stemming from the May 27, 2014 crash.
According to police and prosecutors, Luellen was under the influence of a combination of alcohol, cocaine, marijuana and anti-anxiety drugs when he drove his 2011 Nissan Maxima through a stop sign at Jefferson and Liberty streets in Elgin and collided with a vehicle driven by Miguel Austin Telles, 35, of Carpentersville.
The crash killed Telles and broke both of Luellen's legs.
It was not the first time Luellen has been accused of fleeing from police.
According to court records and police reports, he was sentenced to 2½ years in prison in December 2012 after pleading guilty to leading Elgin police on a chase through neighborhoods that ended after he abandoned his car and was caught on foot with a crack pipe in his pocket.
Under state law, Luellen was only required to serve 50 percent of that 30-month term, but if convicted of aggravated DUI, he must serve 85 percent of any sentence.
Luellen has been held at the Kane County jail on $1 million bail since his arrest.
40 years for sex assaults
A 48-year-old Lake in the Hills man recently was sentenced to 40 years in prison after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting two young girls over a period of several years.
Otto L. Bobadilla pleaded guilty in February to four counts of predatory criminal sexual assault of a victim younger than 13 from 2008 through 2011 and one count of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, court records show.
McHenry County Judge Sharon Prather handed down the sentence, of which Bobadilla must serve 85 percent, or about 34 years behind bars.
Upon release he must register as a sex offender for life.
Aurora meeting site changed
In response to large turnouts, Aurora police have moved their third community meeting Monday to the West Aurora High School auditorium, 1201 W. New York St.
The meeting, held from 7 to 9 p.m., will cover community policing and special operations.
All three meetings were scheduled at the police department, but the second drew about 200 people and dozens ended up standing.
Call (630) 256-5110 or visit aurora-il.org/APD.