Joliet Parolee With 10 DUIs Now Charged With Domestic Violence

JOLIET, IL — Ronald T. Meimers, the 59-year-old Joliet man who has 10 DUI convictions on his record and was paroled by the Illinois Department of Corrections last October, has been arrested by Joliet police on three new felony charges of domestic battery.

This week, the Will County State's Attorney's Office of Jim Glasgow filed a petition to deny pretrial release for Meimers, indicating "the defendant's pretrial release poses a real and present threat to the safety of any person or persons or the community."

According to the Illinois Department of Corrections, Meimers received a nine-year prison sentence for his 10th aggravated DUI offense, out of Will County. In total, Meimers served less than two years at the Big Muddy Correctional Center. He was paroled on Oct. 27, 2022.

This week's petition notes that Meimers has two prior convictions for domestic battery and at least three prior convictions for DUI involving drugs or alcohol.

Meimers was alleged to be intoxicated at the time of his Oct. 1 arrest by Joliet police, according to Will County's prosecutors. The prosecution's petition states that at 12:30 a.m., Joliet police were called to Meimers' residence in the 2300 block of White Birch Lane for a domestic battery.

On Sunday, the victim told Joliet police she was on the phone with her son and watching TV, when Meimers, "who was heavily intoxicated, became belligerent and began hitting her," court records show.

Prior to the attack, Meimers was asleep in the bedroom.

The victim told Joliet police Meimers hit her in the face with a closed fist. The officers noticed a purple bruise on the corner of her left eye. She also told the officers that Meimers pulled her hair. Joliet police sergeant Gillespie photographed the woman's injuries, and she filled out the police department's domestic violence packet.

"The People pray that this honorable court deny the defendant pretrial release," Assistant Will County State's Attorney Donna Webdell wrote.

Will County Judge Donald DeWilkins ruled in favor of the prosecution.

He ordered Meimers to stay indefinitely at the Will County Jail. The felony domestic battery case was assigned to Will County Judge Dave Carlson in Courtroom 405 and Oct. 16 marks the next hearing for Meimers, who turns 60 in November.

Back on Feb. 3, 2021, Will County Judge Vincent Cornelius sentenced Meimers to nine years at the Illinois Department of Corrections, giving Meimers credit for time already served in the Will County Jail, 663 days.

Joliet Patch previously reported that the Illinois State Police arrest that led to Meimers' 10th DUI conviction occurred during the late hours of April 13, 2019.

The intoxicated Joliet motorist was driving his silver Hyundai along the southbound stretch of Interstate 55 near milepost 261 in Plainfield.

Related Joliet Patch coverage of Ronald Meimers:

10 DUIs: Joliet's Ron Meimers Sentenced To Prison