Crystal Lake man charged with DUI, child endangerment

A Crystal Lake man was ordered held on $70,000 bail Monday after, authorities say, Palatine police this weekend found him slumped behind the steering wheel of his car, with his keys in the ignition and his three children in the back seat.

John Costa, 42, was charged with aggravated DUI. a felony punishable by up five years in prison, and misdemeanor endangering the life of a child.

Officers responding to a call about a suspicious person Saturday found Costa in his car on the 1200 block of West Algonquin Road, said Cook County Assistant State's Attorney Caitlin Casey.

In the back seat were his 10-month-old twins and his 6-year-old, Casey said.

After waking Costa up, officers reported he had a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage and slurred speech, Casey said. Costa - who has two DUI convictions - was taken to the hospital, where he declined to submit to blood and urine tests, Casey said.

He next appears in court on Sept. 7.