DUI Offender Seeks To Have Bond Lowered, Gets It Raised
ST. CHARLES, Ill. (CBS) -- A Chicago man arrested for DUI in the western suburbs two weeks ago is probably wishing that he didn't ask for his bail to be lowered.
As WBBM Newsradio 780's Nancy Harty reports, Paul Woodard and the assistant public defender representing him were hoping to get his $20,000 bond cut in half so he could get out of the Kane County Jail.
Instead, a judge raised it to $75,000 after prosecutors detailed Woodard's lengthy history of driving illegally and other criminal convictions.
LISTEN: Newsradio 780's Nancy Harty reports
Podcast
Woodard, 34, is being held on aggravated drunken driving and aggravated driving with a revoked license in connection with the June 2 traffic stop in Montgomery when an officer said he recorded Woodard's vehicle going 44 mph in a 30 mph zone.
Police say he pulled into a driveway, got out of his car and tried to run away after being pulled over for speeding.
During a Thursday hearing, Woodard's assistant public defender asked to have the bail reduced to $10,000 because, arguing that the amount was excessive. But Assistant State's Attorney Andrew Whitfield told Judge Marmarie Kostelny that Woodard had 25 other arrests for driving revoked since 1999. Those arrests occurred around the Chicago area.
Whitfield, who sought an increase to $150,000, argued that raising the bond was necessary for the protection of the public. In this case, the aggravated driving with a revoked license is a Class 2 felony because of the number of previous convictions, Whitfield said.
Woodard also has drug and other felony convictions, which makes him eligible for an extended sentence if convicted in the new case.
In Kane County, since 2002, Woodard has been convicted of driving with a suspended license at least three times and, in 2003, delivery of cocaine, records show. He is scheduled to be in court again in July.
The Elgin Courier-News contributed to this report, via the Sun-Times Media Wire
