District 204 Driver's Ed Instructor Sentenced For 2nd DUI

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, recently got convicted and sentenced for DUI, his second conviction in Will County. In May 2017, Joliet Patch reported that a blood draw taken at St. Joe's Hospital revealed that Nowak was more than three times above the legal limit.

Patch also had reported at the time that school staff did not notify the Joliet Police Department about the incident until a full week afterward. A few weeks ago, on Aug. 30, Nowak stood in court with his private defense counsel, Eugene "Gino" Fimbianti, for a plea and sentencing. Will County Circuit Judge Rick Mason sentenced Nowak to two years of conditional discharge, $2,500 in fines and 300 hours of community service at a rate of 25 hours per month, court records show.

Nestor Nowak, now 47, "shall attend a minimum of three open or closed A/A or N/A meetings per week until further order of the court." He will also complete Level 3 high risk counseling and aftercare. As part of the plea bargain, the second of the two DUI charges was dismissed, documents indicate.

Nowak is also scheduled to return in front of Judge Mason on Nov. 29 for a status update on his compliance.

On May 9, 2017, the Will County State's Attorney's Office charged Nestor Nowak with two counts of misdemeanor driving under the influence. The complaint states: "said defendant drove or was in actual physical control of a vehicle, a white Ford, in the parking lot of 201 East Jefferson Street in Joliet ... while the alcohol concentration in his blood or breath was 0.08 or more."

On Aug. 30, Nowak appeared before Will County Judge Rick Mason for a plea and sentencing. Nowak was placed on two years of conditional discharge, fined $2,500, ordered to perform 300 hours of community service at a rate of 25 hours per month.

Nowak was also ordered to complete Level 3 High Risk counseling and aftercare and he "shall attend a minimum of three open or closed A/A or N/A meetings per week until further order of the court and file proof of said attendance."

Judge Mason has ordered a follow up court hearing for Nov. 29 to check on Nowak's progress. The defendant is being represented by attorney Eugene Fimbianti.

In May 2017, Joliet Patch reported that a Joliet Central employee found Nowak slumped over the steering wheel of a white Ford driver's ed car about 11 a.m. on April 6, 2017. Nowak was taken to Presence St. Joseph Medical Center. A blood draw showed his alcohol content was more than three times the .08 percent legal limit for driving, police said.

A Joliet Central human resources staffer reached out to the detective assigned to the school on April 13, police said. A warrant was then obtained for Nowak's arrest.

Three years earlier, Nowak was arrested by New Lenox Police for driving drunk on June 3, 2014, a crime he later pleaded guilty. The Shorewood resident was arrested while headed westbound at 12:52 a.m. on Route 30 at Nelson Road.

Nowak is a resident of Shorewood and the son of Martin Nowak, who is now retired from the Will County Sheriff's Department. The elder Nowak had been the longtime undersheriff under Sheriff Paul Kaupas.

Nestor Nowak was not employed by the high school district during the 2017-2018 school year, school records indicate.

Mugshot of Nestor Nowak via Joliet Police Department