Your Help Is Needed: Important Sentencing Court Date in Hector Avalos Case 11/17/15

You’ve likely heard the tragic story of Hector Avalos, an avid cyclist and Marine veteran.  While Hector was  cycling home from his job in December 2013, he was struck and killed by a motor vehicle driven by an allegedly drunk, clout-heavy Stroger Hospital administrator.

If you’re unfamiliar with these events, Streetsblog Chicago has posted a series of articles over the past 1...  (Start from the bottom-most article and work your way upwards ).

Robert Vais’ journey through the legal system has been an understandably exhausting and frustrating experience for Hector’s family as it has transpired over the past 18+ months.  

Robert Vais plead guilty recently to Aggravated DUI in the death of Hector Avalos. It is a Class 2 Felony and carries a sentence of 3-14 years with only a possibility of probation and fines of up to $25,000.00. 

At the hearing the Prosecutor, Assistant State's Attorney Shawn Concannon noted that the breathalyzer taken at 2:06 a.m. (over two hours after the fatal crash) was .118. However, THE BLOOD DRAW TAKEN AT ST. ANTHONY'S AFTER THE CRASH CAME BACK AT .152 ACCORDING TO THE TOXICOLOGIST. That is nearly double the legal limit of .08. In other words, Vais was at a high level of intoxication at the time of the crash than his breathalyzer over two hours after the crash. Two hours later he was still at .118. 

At the hearing Vais acknowledge on the record that he was pleading guilty of his own free will and understood that it was a "blind plea" meaning there was no guarantee as to what his sentence would be. Judge Ford will determine his sentence. 

Sentencing is scheduled for November 17, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. in Courtroom 702 (Judge Nicholas Ford) at 26th & California. 

Background information:
http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topics/m-28-western-ogden-12-6-2013

http://www.thechainlink.org/events/court-hearing-for-defendant-robe... (previous hearing)