Judge Jones: Alberto Filipponi Not Guilty Of 3rd DUI

JOLIET, IL - A high-ranking member of the Joliet Township High School District 204 administration team who subsequently resigned after being arrested for his third drunken driving offense was acquitted Monday following a bench trial before Will County Judge Sarah Jones. Prosecutors at the Will County State's Attorney's Office had called members of the Illinois State Police to testify about their arrest of Alberto Filipponi, one of the curriculum directors for District 204, following a late night weekend traffic stop along Interstate 55 on Oct. 8, 2017 in Plainfield Township.

After the prosecution finished calling its witnesses, Filipponi's private counsel, Collette Safford and Edward Oedzes of O'Dekirk, Allred & Associates, asked Judge Jones to issue a direct finding of not guilty, and she did.

Jones found the 40-year-old former District 204 school official not guilty of aggravated driving under the influence, a Class 2 felony, and count 2, obstructing a peace officer, a misdemeanor.

"It was a surprise," Will County State's Attorney's Office spokesman Chuck Pelkie told Joliet Patch on Tuesday morning. "Our prosecutors presented evidence we believe showed he was guilty of DUI and obstruction. The judge felt otherwise, and her decision is final on that."

Last October, Illinois State Police Trooper Ben Briddell saw a silver Hyundai Elantra driving south on Interstate 55 and clocked Filipponi driving 88 mph in the 65 mph zone, court papers reflect.

"Trooper Briddell observed the vehicle reduce its speed and begin to weave within its lane," court documents show. Eventually, the trooper activated his emergency lights to make a traffic stop. At the time of the traffic stop, Filipponi was traveling with a female passenger.

Ultimately, the Illinois State Police removed Filipponi from the car, Patch previously reported.

"Trooper Briddell instructed Filipponi to stand, however, he was unable to stand on his own. Trooper Briddell assisted Filipponi to his feet at which point Trooper Briddell observed his balance was unsteady as he swayed back and forth," court documents state. "While standing next to Filipponi, Trooper Briddell detected the strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emitting from his breath and observed that his speech was slurred and difficult to understand."

Filipponi refused to consent to any field sobriety tests and he refused to take a Breathalyzer, "at which point he placed his hands behind his back and lowered his head," court documents state.

At the time of his traffic stop along I-55, Filipponi had already been previously convicted of two other drunken driving incidents. Several weeks after his arrest and incarceration made the headlines, Filipponi submitted his resignation papers to District 204 Superintendent Cheryl McCarthy.

According to Ballotpedia, Sarah Jones was appointed a Will County Circuit Court judge by the Illinois Supreme Court in January 2007. Her current six-year term on the bench expires in December 2020.

Joliet Patch has placed a call to Filipponi's lawyers seeking their reaction to the verdict, and this story will be updated if they call back with additional comments.

PREVIOUS PATCH COVERAGE: Filipponi Also Charged With Obstruction Of Justice

Mugshot of Alberto Filipponi via Will County Sheriff