Jail, monitoring device for man arrested in Aurora lawn mower DUI
A 51-year-old man arrested in 2017 in Aurora on charges that he drove a John Deere lawn mower tractor while drunk has been sentenced to 20 days in jail after pleading guilty to reckless driving.
Ruben L. Garza, of the 1100 block of Wellman Avenue, Montgomery, pleaded guilty this week to the misdemeanor charge, according to Kane County court records.
As part of the plea, which was accepted by Judge Robert Villa, Garza also is required to attend a victim impact panel, wear an alcohol monitoring device for 120 days, pay $3,105 in fines and be on conditional discharge for 18 months, records show.
Garza was jailed Monday after pleading guilty. He can have his sentence cut in half for good behavior and he receives one day credit after spending a night in jail after his arrest in November 2017, records show.
According to Aurora police, an officer responded to Fifth Street and Ashland Avenue on the city's southeast side for a report of a man driving a John Deere lawn mower tractor in the road.
One witness told police that Garza appeared drunk and possibly falling asleep; another witness said Garza stopped to urinate on the 400 block of Ashland, almost hit another vehicle and yelled at bystanders, authorities said.
Officers stopped Garza on the 1100 block of Lebanon Street, and he smelled of alcohol and became belligerent because he did not think he could be charged with DUI while on the riding mower, police said.
Messages left for Kim DiGiovanni, who prosecuted the case for the city of Aurora, were not returned this week.