Lake Zurich trustee pleads not guilty to DUI charge
A Lake Zurich village trustee accused of driving drunk in March when he crashed into a street sign and tree pleaded not guilty Tuesday to a misdemeanor DUI charge in Lake County court.
Jim Beaudoin, 46, was ordered by Judge Reginald Matthews not to drive without a valid driver's license or use any alcohol or drugs as a condition of his $3,000 recognizance bond.
His attorney, Joseph Zeit, declined to comment after court Tuesday. Beaudoin previously did not respond when asked for comment.
If found guilty of the misdemeanor charge, Beaudoin could be sentenced up to one year in jail and a fine.
A Lake Zurich trustee since 2013, Beaudoin was charged March 21 after, police said, he crashed his gray Audi A4 into a "No Outlet" sign and a tree near the intersection of Prairie Lane and Cedar Street.
According to police documents, Beaudoin was driving west on Cedar Street about 6:20 p.m. when he tried to make a left turn onto Prairie Lane. Reports state he took the turn too wide, left the road and hit the sign and tree.
Witnesses told officers Beaudoin got out, surveyed the damage and threw debris - including the sign - into the back of his car, police said.
Beaudoin, of the 500 block of Dunhill Drive, walked away from the crash but was stopped on Prairie Lane by a Lake Zurich police officer responding to the scene, police said.
He declined an ambulance, and the officer smelled alcohol on his breath, reports said. Beaudoin was asked to perform a field sobriety test, but the results were redacted from police reports.
Beaudoin's next court date is May 15.