Hinkle Sentenced to prison for Felony DUI

[June 23, 2014]  LINCOLN - On June 19, 2014, the Honorable William Yoder, Associate Judge of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit accepted a fully negotiated plea agreement involving two felony DUI cases filed against Jonathan Hinkle.

Mr. Hinkle was sentenced to 4 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol in Logan County Case No. 13 CF 3. Mr. Hinkle was also sentenced to 4 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol in Logan County Case No. 13 CF 225. The sentences run consecutive to each other for a total combined prison sentence of 8 years.

Both cases arose out of traffic stops made by a Logan County Sheriff’s Deputy - the first on January 4, 2013 and the second on October 27, 2013. In both instances, the Sheriff’s Deputy observed erratic driving of a pickup truck on Illinois State Route 10 west of Lincoln. Once each traffic stop was initiated, the Sheriff’s Deputy identified the driver as Mr. Hinkle and observed additional evidence of Mr. Hinkle’s impairment such as slurred speech and an odor of alcoholic beverage coming from his person.

Each charge of driving under the influence of alcohol was a Class 1 felony based upon Mr. Hinkle’s history of four prior violations of DUI. “Driving under the influence of alcohol or any other substance is a serious offense. The public is at risk when a person gets behind the wheel of a vehicle and drives impaired,” stated Jonathan Wright. “The Logan County Sheriff’s Department is to be commended for their efforts in keeping our roads safe,” added Wright.

[Text received; THE OFFICE OF LOGAN COUNTY STATE'S ATTORNEY JONATHAN WRIGHT]