Crime & Safety
Man Nabbed for 5th DUI Near Outlet Mall Gets 10 Years in Prison
Paulino Ledezma is eligible for an extended sentence because of his DUI history.
A man with a long history of drunken driving and driving without a license has been sent to prison for a 2011 DUI crash on Aurora’s northeast side.
Paulino B. Ledezma (AKA Antonio Cruz), 32, of the 1300 block of West Indian Trail Road, Aurora, was sentenced today by Associate Judge Thomas J. Stanfa to 10 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
On June 6, 2013, Ledezma pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated DUI, a Class 1 felony, one count of driving while license revoked, a Class 3 felony, and one count of failing to stop after an accident involving personal injury, a Class 4 felony.
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At about 2 a.m. July 2, 2011, Ledezma was driving a 2001 silver Dodge Durango along Farnsworth Road near Reckinger Road when his car struck the victim’s car. Ledezma immediately fled with the victim and a witness following him. Ledezma continued north to the Premium Outlet Mall, where Aurora police finally stopped him.
Officers detected a strong odor of alcohol on Ledezma’s breath and saw an opened beer can in the center console. When he exited his car, Ledezma needed assistance to stand. Ledezma refused to perform standard field sobriety tests and to submit to a lawfully requested blood-alcohol concentration test. The victim suffered neck and back injuries and was taken to the hospital by ambulance.
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The sentence is 10 years for the aggravated DUI, four years for the DWLR and two years for the leaving the scene. The terms are to be served concurrently.
Ledezma was eligible for an extended sentence because of his DUI history. He was previously convicted for 1997, 2004, 2005 and 2007 DUI charges, all in DuPage County. He was sentenced to a total of 54 months in prison on the 2005 and 2007 DUIs. In addition, Ledezma has at least 12 prior DWLR.
According to Illinois law, Ledezma is eligible for day-for-day sentencing. Ledezma was given credit for at least 703 days served in the Kane County jail.
The case was prosecuted by Kane County Assistant State’s Attorney Danielle Bechtold.
SOURCE: Kane County State's Attorney's Office
