Suspect in fatal DUI can return to work
A 23-year-old Aurora man accused in the drunk-driving deaths of two Batavia High School graduates will be allowed to return to work while his case goes to trial.
Kane County Judge Philip DiMarzio Thursday granted permission for Thomas Ofenloch Jr. to resume work beginning Sunday in the maintenance division of Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago.
Ofenloch's attorney, J. Brick Van Der Snick of Geneva, said Ofenloch's father will drive him to work and supervise him.
"His father works the same shift at the same place," Van Der Snick said.
Ofenloch is charged with four counts each of aggravated DUI and reckless homicide in an Aug. 4 crash in unincorporated Sugar Grove.
He faces up to 28 years in prison if convicted.
Authorities say Ofenloch was the driver of a 2007 Nissan Sentra when it struck a tree, killing passengers Andrew Berger and Joshua Sutton, both 21 of Batavia and members of the class of 2004.
Prosecutors also have charged Ofenloch with having marijuana in his system.
Ofenloch was released on $35,000 bond Aug. 6 and ordered to remain at his parents' residence on electric home monitoring, under their supervision at all times and not to consume alcohol.
Ofenloch made his first appearance in Kane County Court Thursday, wearing a blue polo shirt, khaki pants and red-wire rimmed glasses.
Ofenloch also was ordered to have an alcohol evaluation completed within 10 days.
His bloodied forehead and right eye appeared to have healed since the crash, but Van Der Snick said his client might have a torn retina and was seeing a plastic surgeon for facial injuries. Van Der Snick also requested that a different judge preside over the case, but no immediate decision was made.
"I just feel my client's interest would be served by a different judge," Van Der Snick said. "(Ofenloch is) very upset. Those were his two best friends."
The night of the crash, Ofenloch and others were at a party in Sugar Grove that was broken up by police. Police said Ofenloch promised to spend the night and not leave the house. A few hours later, his car smashed into a tree with a force so great, it split the car in half -- lengthwise, police said.
Ofenloch also has a pending DUI case stemming from a traffic stop June 29 along Interstate 90 in Chicago. A call to Ofenloch's attorney for that case was not returned Thursday.