Crime & Safety
Driver Guilty in Fatal Crash Sentenced to Three Years in Prison
Keith M. Stanislaus of Yorkville was found guilty of two counts of Aggravated Driving under the Influence of Alcohol involving a death in a fatal car crash in April 2012.
A Yorkville man charged with two counts of felony drunk driving related to an April fatality is heading to prison, according to a press release from the Kendall County State's Attorney.
Judge John Barsanti sentenced Keith M. Stanislaus of Yorkville to prison for three years, during a hearing last week. Stanislaus, who was found guilty in November, was facing a sentence of three to 14 years. During sentencing Barsanti noted Stanislaus’ lack of a criminal record, which was his reasoning behind the shorter sentence, the release said.
Kendall County State’s Attorney Eric Weis argued for a lengthy sentence, saying the tragic death of Ryan Perina, a passenger in Stanislaus’ car, was preventable.
Find out what's happening in Yorkvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
“…DUI offenses, including these types of cases, are one of the most preventable crimes. While Mr. Stanislaus did not set out that night trying to take the life of his friend, the results of his actions of drinking, driving, and speeding all resulted in a horrific outcome for the family of Ryan Perina as well as Mr. Stanislaus,” Weiss said in a press release.
According to reports Stanislaus, of the 500 block of Yellowstone Lane, hit several trees and broke a utility pole off Kennedy Road near McHugh Road in the 1999 Honda Accord he was driving. The crash happened at about 12:40 a.m. April 26.
Find out what's happening in Yorkvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
, died on the scene, while Stanislaus and a 20-year-old front-seat passenger were injured.
Police found Stanislaus outside the vehicle with slurred speech and a strong odor of alcohol, court records indicate. Police also found a broken bottle of rum and a metal pipe at the scene, court records indicate.
Hospital workers told police that Stanislaus’ blood-alcohol level from a blood sample medical personnel took was 0.19 percent, court records indicate. The legal driving limit is 0.08 percent.
Witnesses estimated the speed just prior to the crash to be in excess of 80 miles per hour. During the two-day trial a crash reconstruction expert put the speed at the time of the crash between 66 and 77 miles per hour.
