Sentencing delayed for Libertyville woman in fatal crash

A Libertyville woman who admitted she had drugs in her system when she caused a crash that killed a motorcyclist was not properly advised of the consequences of her guilty plea, a judge said Wednesday.

Dana Hoffman, 26, should have been told she was almost certain to go to prison when she pleaded guilty April 11, Lake County Circuit Judge Victoria Rossetti said.

Hoffman, of the 1400 block of Vineyard Lane, killed Michael Adcock, 49, of McHenry on July 9, 2009 when the van she was driving crashed into Adcock's motorcycle on Cage Road in Wauconda Township.

Blood tests revealed Hoffman had heroin and the anti-anxiety drug Xanax in her system at the time of the crash.

She was charged under a law that requires a minimum prison sentence of three years and a maximum of 14 years unless a judge finds "extraordinary circumstances" warrant a sentence of probation.

However, during the court hearing at which Hoffman pleaded guilty, Rossetti did not tell her the extraordinary circumstances would have to be found before Hoffman could be sentenced to probation.

Rossetti canceled a sentencing hearing scheduled for Wednesday and ordered Hoffman, who is held on $250,000 bond, to appear in court June 21.