A man who drove drunk leaving a Super Bowl party and crashed his car near Richmond, leaving his unrestrained disabled child with severe injuries, has been sentenced to almost five years in prison.
The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office and Richmond Fire Protection District responded around 10:24 p.m. on February 12, 2023, to the 7800 block of Tryon Grove Road in unincorporated Richmond.
Deputies were dispatched for a report of a single-vehicle crash, according to McHenry County Sheriff’s Office Communications Specialist Emily Matusek.
An initial investigation showed the vehicle left the roadway and hit a ditch embankment.
The driver was identified as Bryan M. Johnston, 36, of Twin Lakes, Wisconsin.
Johnston and a child, who was a passenger in his car, were transported to Northwestern Medicine Hospital in McHenry, Matusek said.
The juvenile was later transferred to Comers Children’s Hospital in Chicago due to their age and injuries, Matusek added.
Prosecutors said the child suffered multiple severe injuries.
Johnston is the caregiver for the child, who was 12 years old and has a pre-existing disability, a grand jury indictment said.
Johnston also failed to fasten the child’s seatbelt before driving, the indictment said. The child, who is Johnston’s son, was in the front seat of the car.
Prosecutors said deputies spoke with Johnston and smelled a strong odor of alcohol.
He had red bloodshot eyes and his speech was slurred, prosecutors said. Johnston later admitted he had been drinking at a Super Bowl party prior to the crash.
Johnston was charged with criminal abuse of a person with a disability, criminal neglect of a person with a disability, aggravated driving under the influence causing great bodily harm, aggravated driving under the influence, driving under the influence with a child passenger, driving under the influence of alcohol, child endangerment and driver failing to secure seatbelt of a child.
Johnston was transported to the McHenry County Jail following his arrest and was ordered held on a $20,000 bond. He was released after posting 10% of his bond.
Court records show Johnston pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated driving under the influence causing bodily harm, a Class 2 felony.
McHenry County Judge Mark Gerhardt approved the plea on Friday and sentenced Johnston to four years and six months in the Illinois Department of Corrections pursuant to the agreement.
After the sentencing, McHenry County State’s Attorney Patrick Kenneally said he recognizes the dedication of the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office and Assistant State’s Attorney Maria Marek, who worked on the case, for their “continuing efforts to keep our roads safe.”