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Elgin woman gets prison for 5th and 6thDUIs

An Elgin woman is headed to prison for her fifth and sixth DUI offenses.

Cheri L. Bookman, 48 (d.o.b. 9-7-1967), homeless, of Elgin, today agreed to a sentence of 13 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections in exchange for a guilty plea to two counts of aggravated DUI, one a Class X felony and one a Class 1 felony.

Associate Judge David Kliment accepted the plea.

Prosecutors presented evidence that on Jan. 4, 2015, Bookman struck a vehicle while driving in the 1500 block of Mark Avenue, Elgin. The driver of the car she struck spoke with Bookman and noted that she appeared intoxicated. Bookman then fled the scene and the other driver called 911. Bookman was later found by Elgin police at a home where she was staying. Police noted that Bookman continued to drink vodka during their conversation, and she acknowledged she had been drinking vodka all day. The other driver identified Bookman as the driver of the car that struck his car. Bookman was arrested and charged with DUI, and was released on bond after serving one day in jail.

On Aug, 2, 2015, Elgin police saw Bookman driving the wrong way on Chicago Street, which is a one-way street. Police stopped her and noted a strong odor of alcohol on her breath. When the officer returned to his vehicle to seek more information about Bookman, she fled in her vehicle. She soon crashed into a guardrail at Chicago and State streets, crawled through the passenger-side window of her car and fled on foot into a wooded area. Police immediately found her and charged her with DUI. Her blood-alcohol content was .247.

Bookman’s four prior DUI offenses were in 2001 (twice), 2002 and 2008 in Jefferson and Cook counties.

According to Illinois law Bookman is eligible for day-for-day sentencing. She receives credit for at least 172 days served in the Kane County jail, where she has been held in lieu of $75,000 bail.

The case was prosecuted by Kane County Assistant State’s Attorney Laura Maglio.

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