7½ years in prison for Grayslake man in fatal DUI guilty plea
A Grayslake man was sentenced to 7½ years in prison for a 2018 DUI crash that killed a Round Lake Beach man in Round Lake Park.
Steven A. Rosellini, 27, apologized to family members of Walter Bajorek before being sentenced by Judge James Booras.
"I take full responsibility for this," Rosellini said in court Thursday.
He said he prays every day for forgiveness.
The sentence came after Rosellini pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated driving under the influence that resulted in death. His sentence also includes two years on mandatory supervised release after he leaves prison.
Rosellini is required to serve 85 percent of the sentence before being eligible for parole, said Lake County Assistant State's Attorney Lisa LeBoeuf.
Charges of failure to report an accident that resulted in death, aggravated DUI resulting in great bodily harm, and reckless homicide were dropped in exchange for the plea deal.
Bajorek's family members approved the plea deal, LeBoeuf said in court.
Daughter Amanda Bajorek repeatedly called Rosellini a "murderer" when reading her impact statement in court.
"This murderer took away a husband, father, grandfather and friend," she said.
Defense attorney Doug Roberts objected to the statements because Rosellini did not plead guilty to murder.
Walter Bajorek's wife, Roberta Bajorek, added in court, "I can't understand how someone could leave us like we were roadkill on the road."
Walter Bajorek, 65, and his wife were driving on Hainesville Road when their vehicle was struck by Rosellini's at 9:11 p.m. March 25, 2018.
Rosellini, of the 600 block of Swan Drive, ran from the scene after the crash. He was apprehended a short time later by a police dog unit.
The crash caused both cars to leave the road, police said. A third vehicle sustained minor damage.
"This is an extremely tragic situation. Mr. Rosellini feels nothing but remorse for what happened," Roberts said after the hearing.