Repeat Aurora DUI offender goes back to prison

An Aurora man who repeatedly gets behind the wheel drunk won't be driving anytime soon.

John D. Slattery was sentenced Wednesday to eight years in prison after he pleaded guilty to aggravated DUI. He also admitted to driving without a license.

The 41-year-old Aurora man will be eligible for parole after serving half the prison term.

Slattery's license has been suspended or revoked since 1991 because of drunken driving. He has at least six DUI convictions, officials said.

In the latest case, Slattery was arrested about 1:30 p.m. June 19 during a traffic stop on Aurora's far east side.

A police officer driving behind Slattery's 1994 Chevy Blazer became suspicious when the motorist stopped long enough at a traffic light at Ogden Avenue and Eola Road for it to cycle back to red.

Authorities said Slattery then turned left on red and cut off westbound traffic. He later refused a Breathalyzer test, prompting police to secure a search warrant for his blood sample.

Authorities said Slattery had a blood-alcohol level of .158, nearly twice the legal threshold of .08, despite the time delay.

He faced up to 30 years in prison based on a tough 2006 state law for repeat DUI offenders.

This also marks his second prison stint. He was sentenced to 38 months in prison for a 2005 DUI in Westmont, and was on parole less than one year before being stopped again, according to prison records.

DuPage Circuit Judge John Kinsella presided over Thursday's plea deal in Wheaton.