A Cary man twice convicted of attempted murder in Cook County remains held in McHenry County Jail after picking up his sixth DUI following a crash he allegedly caused in Crystal Lake, authorities said.
George Gnewuch, 64, of Cary, is charged with two Class X counts of Aggravated Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol with five or more prior violations, two Class 4 felony counts of Aggravated Driving Under the Influence with a revoked license, one Class 4 felony count of Driving While License is Revoked, and one misdemeanor count of Leaving the Scene of an Accident.
McHenry County State’s Attorney Randi Freese announced that Gnewuch was ordered detained in jail pending the outcome of his trial following a hearing in Initial Appearance Court on January 29.
Freese added that Gnewuch was also twice convicted in Cook County of Attempted Murder in 1985 and 1992.
He was also acquitted of murder when he was a teen in 1980.
Freese said evidence presented in court showed that Gnewuch was driving a white pickup truck eastbound on Northwest Highway in Crystal Lake at about 6:37 p.m. on December 1 when he crossed over the median into the westbound lanes of traffic.
His vehicle struck another vehicle on its driver’s side door, pushing that vehicle off the roadway.
After completely losing one of his wheels in the collision, Gnewuch drove from the scene to his home, Freese said.
Responding deputies from the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office were able to identify the registration of the truck and went to Gnewuch’s home.
Upon contacting Gnewuch, deputies detected a strong odor of alcohol, Freese said.
In addition, deputies found the truck in the driveway with significant front-end damage.
Gnewuch was arrested with a BAC of .168, Freese said.
Prosecutors pointed out that Gnewuch had prior DUI convictions in 1984, 1985, 1991, 2003, and 2004, Freese said.
In addition, Gnewuch’s driver’s license was revoked because of the prior DUI convictions.
“It’s clear that this is a man who has not learned from his previous convictions,” Freese said. “He continues to commit crimes, and continues to put lives in our community at risk.”
The case has been assigned to a Kane County judge because the alleged victim of the latest DUI is well known to McHenry County judges and administrators, court records show.
Gnewuch is due back in court on Feb. 6.
Gnewuch was convicted of attempted murder in Cook County in 1986 and 1992, the Northwest Herald reported.
The first case occurred in Des Plaines, and Gnewuch was sentenced to six years in prison. He was paroled in 1988 after serving three years.
Gnewuch was again convicted of attempted murder following a 1992 attack of a woman in Schaumburg, according to media reports. It’s unknown how long Gnewuch was in prison on the second case.
Gnewuch was also previously found not guilty of the murder of a Port Barrington woman when he was a teenager in 1980, the media is reporting.