Teen driver in fatal DUI crash avoids prison again

An Arlington Heights teen spared prison time for driving drunk in a fatal crash in East Dundee avoided prison again Friday, despite a recent shoplifting arrest.

Kane County Judge Grant S. Wegner sentenced Brian Poliarny, 18, to 60 days of electronic home monitoring and 100 hours of community service for violating his probation through the retail theft charge.

Poliarny, formerly of Elgin, also must work, attend classes at Elgin Community College, undergo a psychiatric evaluation and participate in a victim impact panel.

Poliarny was drunk and had marijuana in his system early Jan. 12, 2007, when he drove through an intersection and struck a brick wall, killing passenger Roman Pokorny, a 16-year-old Dundee-Crown High School student.

Last year, Poliarny was acquitted of first-degree murder, but pleaded guilty to aggravated drunken driving and was sentenced by Wegner to 180 days in the county jail.

That would have been the end of the case, but Poliarny was arrested again Sept. 4 at a Rolling Meadows Meijer store on charges he stole about $65 in merchandise.