Former Driver's Ed Teacher Faces Car Forfeiture

JOLIET, IL — Nestor Nowak, who was found passed out behind the wheel of the driver's education car in front of Joliet Central High School on April 6, 2017, may have his 2019 Toyota Camry declared a forfeited asset for the police, court records show.

On Wednesday, the Will County State's Attorney's Office of Jim Glasgow asked a judge to confiscate the automobile of the former Joliet Township High School driver's education teacher in connection with Nowak's latest criminal charge, driving while license revoked.

On Dec. 9, New Lenox Police Officer Maloree Johnson responded to help another officer conduct a traffic stop at Route 30 and the eastbound ramp for Interstate 80. At the scene, Johnson noticed Nowak's 2019 Toyota Camry "was impeding the free flow of traffic," court records show.

She approached Nowak and asked him to produce his driver's license and proof of insurance. Nowak, court records indicate, "advised that he had a restricted driving permit, however, could not provide any paperwork to substantiate his claim."

The New Lenox officer determined Nowak driver's license was revoked.

Joliet Patch has previously reported that on Aug. 30, 2018, Nowak was sentenced to two years of conditional discharge,$2,500 in fines and 300 hours of community service as a result of his driving under the influence of alcohol offense in Joliet. An April 2017 blood draw taken at St. Joe's Hospital revealed Nowak was more than three times above the legal limit.

According to Wednesday's court filing, Nowak advised the New Lenox officer on Dec. 9 that "he had fallen asleep while stopped at the green light at the intersection of Route 30 and eastbound I-80 (and) he was going to his parents home in New Lenox because he was tired after working and did not want to go to his home in Shorewood."

The New Lenox officer asked Nowak to step out of his car and perform field sobriety tests.

"Due to the nature of the incident, Nestor consented to perform the standard field sobriety tests which Officer Johnson could see no impairment," court records indicate. "Officer Johnson then placed Nestor Nowak under arrest for driving while license revoked for DUI."

The time of his traffic stop was 11:53 p.m., court documents show. A hearing on the forfeiture of Nowak's 2019 Toyota Camry has been set for March 11.