CRYSTAL LAKE, IL — A 64-year-old Cary man with five prior DUI convictions and two attempted murder convictions has pleaded guilty to a felony DUI charge stemming from a December 2025 crash in Crystal Lake, authorities said.
George Gnewuch pleaded guilty to aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol, sixth or subsequent violation, a Class X felony, according to the McHenry County State's Attorney's Office.
The charges stem from a crash that occurred around 6:37 p.m. Dec. 1, 2025, when Gnewuch was driving a white pickup truck east on Northwest Highway in Crystal Lake, according to prosecutors. Gnewuch crossed the median into westbound traffic, striking another vehicle on the driver's-side door and forcing it off the roadway, authorities said.
Despite losing an entire wheel in the collision, Gnewuch continued driving and fled the scene, eventually returning to his Cary home, prosecutors said.
McHenry County Sheriff's Office deputies identified the pickup truck through its registration and later located Gnewuch at his residence.
Deputies detected a strong odor of alcohol when they contacted Gnewuch and observed significant front-end damage to his pickup truck, which was parked in the driveway, according to prosecutors.
Gnewuch was arrested, and subsequent testing revealed a blood alcohol concentration of 0.168, more than twice the legal limit of 0.08.
Prosecutors said Gnewuch had five previous DUI convictions dating back to 1984, 1985, 1991, 2003 and 2004. His driver's license had been revoked because of his prior DUI convictions.
His criminal history also includes two attempted murder convictions, one in 1985 and another in 1992, according to the state's attorney's office.
"Five prior DUI convictions. Two prior attempted murder convictions. A revoked driver's license. Yet this defendant once again chose to get behind the wheel while intoxicated, placing innocent lives in danger," Freese said in a statement. "His extensive criminal history demonstrates a decades-long disregard for the law and the safety of others. Our office will continue to seek meaningful consequences for repeat offenders who demonstrate, time and again, that they are unwilling to follow the law and respect the safety of our community."
Gnewuch is scheduled to be sentenced at 1:30 p.m. Dec. 16 before Judge Salvatore LoPiccolo of Kane County.
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