May 23, 2005
McNEES ARRESTED FOR DUI

DuPage County State’s Attorney Joe Birkett and DuPage County Sheriff John Zaruba announced today that on May 21, 2005 at about 2:15 a.m. Sean McNees, age 20, who was convicted in the 2001 reckless homicide of 16 year old Stacey Blundell, was arrested for Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol by a DuPage County Sheriff’s deputy.  It is alleged that McNees was driving erratically and committing numerous lane violations in the area of Benedictine University.  McNees pulled his vehicle into the college entrance, parked his car and got out.  It is alleged that the deputy observed obvious signs of alcohol impairment.  While the deputy was conducting a driver’s license check on McNees’ license, it is alleged that McNees fled on foot.  McNees was quickly apprehended by the deputy and subsequently arrested for Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol.  Bond on this offense was set at $1 million (10% to apply) by Judge Peter Dockery at a bond hearing held on May 22, 2205.   Additional charges will be placed against the defendant, including: driving on a revoked license; possession of a controlled substance; possession of alcohol by a minor; unlawful use of a driver’s license; resisting arrest; and obstructing justice.

At the time of this offense, McNees was still on probation for the December 21, 2001 reckless homicide for a drunk driving crash in Naperville, which caused the death of 16 year old Stacey Blundell.  McNees’ probation has already been revoked once for failing to report to his probation officer resulting in a 20 day jail sentence.  State’s Attorney Birkett said, “This defendant was given an opportunity by the Court to serve a sentence of probation rather than incarceration.  If proven guilty of these new charges, the defendant will have squandered an opportunity to turn his life around without first serving a lengthy jail sentence. We will file a petition to revoke probation and seek an appropriate penitentiary sentence.”

State’s Attorney Birkett praised the DuPage County Sheriff’s Office and the DuPage County Sheriff’s deputy for an excellent job.

Members of the public are reminded that a complaint contains only charges and is not proof of a defendant’s guilt.  A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.