Bolingbrook Trustee Pleads Guilty in Romeoville DUI Crash

Village of Bolingbrook trustee Michael Lawler has pleaded guilty to DUI stemming from a Dec. 23 car crash in Romeoville.

Lawler, 60, pleaded guilty to one count of DUI on Jan. 26 in exchange for 12 months of court supervision, 100 hours of community service and a $1,500 fine. The agreement also requires Lawler to complete alcoholism treatment, according to court records.

Just after 1 a.m. Dec. 23, Romeoville police responding to a car accident found Lawler's Chevy Impala parked in the left turn lane of southbound Independence Boulevard near Normantown Road. Police said the car's headlights were off, all four tires were flat and the vehicle was leaking oil. Police said they were unable to determine exactly where the crash occurred. A heavily redacted police report indicated that Lawler performed field sobriety tests prior to being arrested for DUI, failure to reduce speed and driving an uninsured vehicle.

The longtime trustee entered the guilty plea weeks ahead of his scheduled Feb. 9 court date. Lawler told the Chicago Tribune he is a "strong believer in personal accountability" and decided to plead guilty to "save the time of the court and all the parties involved."

Lawler reportedly told police he was returning from a Christmas party at the Bolingbrook Golf Club prior to the crash. Mayor Roger Claar last month said he hosted a party at the golf club from 5 to 7 p.m. Dec. 22, the Tribune reported.

Following his arrest, Lawler issued a statement saying he had taken medication before having several glasses of wine during holiday celebrations. He expressed gratitude to the police who assisted him, and offered an apology:

“I sincerely apologize to my family, the community, and the Mayor and my fellow elected officials. I did not fully comprehend the significance of the drug interaction and have learned a great deal from this. I encourage anyone who is taking medication to take heed of the possible interactions and heightened sensitivity your body has to alcohol and to not consume alcohol while taking medication, regardless of the time lapse."

Lawler, who has been on the board since 1995 and serves on the public safety committee, is seeking re-election on April 4 as part of the Bolingbrook First slate of candidates. He is also president of the Valley View Educational Enrichment Foundation.