A 41-year-old man has been sentenced to nine years in prison, but will only serve half if he has good behavior, following his seventh DUI arrest, McHenry County prosecutors said.
William R. Moritz, Jr., 41, of Joliet, pleaded guilty to aggravated driving under the influence following a negotiated plea in front of McHenry County Judge Robert Wilbrandt on Tuesday.
McHenry County State’s Attorney Patrick Kenneally said Moritz was sentenced to nine years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. He can be released by serving half of the sentence under truth-in-sentencing guidelines as long as he has good behavior in prison.
Moritz was observed by McHenry County Sheriff Sergeant Andrew Thomas on February 24, 2018 driving near Route 31 and Kane Avenue in McHenry. Sergeant Thomas followed the vehicle and observed it to be swerving and drifting within its lane, prosecutors said.
A traffic stop was initiated on the vehicle at a home on Loyola Drive in McHenry and deputies observed multiple signs of intoxication on Moritz, who failed the field sobriety testing. Deputies also found an open beer can in the vehicle.
A search warrant was obtained and Moritz provided blood at a hospital following his arrest. Toxicology results showed the ethanol levels in his blood were over twice the legal limit, prosecutors said.
Moritz had previously committed six violations of driving under the influence of alcohol, prosecutors added.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorney Mary Ann Scholl and investigated by Sergeant Andrew Thomas of the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office.