A Harvard man who pleaded guilty to his seventh driving under the influence case, which occurred in April in Lake in the Hills, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison.
Mathew S. Berry, 44, of the 3700 block of Hawthorne Road in Harvard, was charged with two counts of aggravated driving under the influence, aggravated driving on a revoked license, leaving the scene of an accident, failing to give aid or info, improper turn at an intersection, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident and transporting open alcohol.
In April, Berry was the driver of a 2003 Ford Explorer when he made an improper turn at Miller Road and Lakewood Road in Lake in the Hills, according to a criminal complaint filed in McHenry County Circuit Court.
Berry’s vehicle struck another vehicle while he attempted to make the improper turn, the complaint said. No one was injured during the crash.
He then fled the scene but witnesses followed him and called the police, according to a law enforcement report filed in court.
Officers found an open beer bottle in the center cupholder of Berry’s vehicle.
A breathalyzer test showed that Berry’s blood alcohol content was 0.213, which is almost three times over the legal limit.
The complaint also said that Berry has six previous driving under the influence convictions and his license was previously revoked.
On Wednesday, the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office reached a negotiated plea deal with Berry and he pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated driving under the influence as a Class X felony.
A McHenry County judge approved the plea deal and sentenced Berry to a combined 12 years in prison for his sixth DUI from May 2019 in Harvard and for his seventh DUI in Lake in the Hills.
McHenry County Robert Wilbrandt approved the plea deal and sentenced Berry to a combined 12 years in prison for the most recent DUI that occurred in Lake in the Hills while he was out on bond for a previous DUI that occurred in May 2019 in Harvard.
The cases were prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorney Brian Miller of the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office.