Man Charged With 26th Driving With Revoked License Offense

ROUND LAKE BEACH, IL — A 61-year-old Round Lake Beach man could face prison time after being charged with his 26th driving while his license was revoked offense, prosecutors said. Steven Knutson, of the 100 block of South Channel Drive, received a citation earlier this year after a Round Lake Beach Police Department saw him run into a parked car in the 1100 block of Rollins Road and pulled him over, according to a news release from the Lake County State's Attorney's Office.

During a follow-up investigation by village attorneys in Round Lake Beach, authorities learned the Illinois Secretary of State's Office had revoked Knutson's driver's license for life due to previous charges of aggravated driving under the influence and driving on a revoked license, prosecutors said in a statement Thursday.

Attorneys allegedly determined Knutson was cited for driving while his license was revoked sixteen times in Cook County, four times in Winnebago County, and three times in Kane and Lake counties. Of the 26 total offenses, Knutson was convicted 24 times and two court cases are still pending, according to prosecutors.

Knutson's record also shows that 24 of the 26 revocation charges took place between 1982 and 2004, authorities said.

Round Lake Beach attorneys requested the Lake County State's Attorney's Office upgrade Knutson's citation to a felony in July. Knutson appeared in court on Thursday morning where his bail was set at $20,000, and he was taken into custody, according to a news release.

"Driving is not a right, it's a privilege," Lake County State's Attorney Michael Nerheim said. "The fact that Mr. Knutson continued to get behind the wheel of a vehicle and drive is astonishing. I commend the Round Lake Beach Police, their village attorneys, and attorneys from the Lake County State's Attorney's Office for doing what is necessary to ensure this man stops driving."

If convicted on the upgraded charge, Knutson could be sentenced to between three and seven years in prison due to the upgraded felony charges for driving on a revoked license. If found guilty at trial, Knutson would not be eligible for probation or conditional discharge.

Knutson is due back in court for a status hearing on Aug. 26 at 1:30 p.m. in courtroom T-110.