Bolingbrook Village Trustee Michael Lawler says he has begun serving 100 hours of community service that was part of his sentencing following a guilty plea to drunken driving charges.
Lawler, 60, who was charged in December, pleaded guilty to one count of DUI last month. He was given 12 months of court supervision and ordered to do the community service and pay a $1,500 fine, according to Will County court records.
"I’m a strong believer in personal accountability," said Lawler, who was originally scheduled to appear in court Thursday but entered a guilty plea Jan. 26. "I decided to proceed with resolution of this matter ahead of schedule. This will save the time of the court and all the parties involved, allowing all to spend their time on other duties."
His attorney, Jeff Tomczak, said Lawler was "truly remorseful."
"This is one client who has taken responsibility for his actions right from the very beginning," Tomczak said.
Lawler, a member of the Bolingbrook Village Board since 1995, was arrested early Dec. 23 after Romeoville police responded to a report of a one-vehicle crash on Independence Boulevard near Normantown Road and found Lawler in a car that was damaged, according to police. Lawler had a blood-alcohol content of 0.176, more than twice the legal limit, and was charged with two misdemeanor counts of DUI.
According to Romeoville police, Lawler had bloodshot eyes and smelled of alcohol when police found him about 1 a.m. in a 2012 Chevrolet Impala that was in the southbound left-turn lane of Independence. All four tires of his car were flat but police were unable to determine what caused the damage to Lawler’s car, according to police.
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In a statement he emailed to the Tribune after his arrest, Lawler said he had attended several holiday parties on Dec. 22 and had taken some medication earlier in the day. Although he thought enough time had lapsed from when he took the medication to when he had some wine, the combination of the two caused him to "become disoriented," Lawler said at the time. He apologized to his "family, the community, and the mayor and my fellow elected officials," for his arrest.
When arrested Lawler had told police he was returning from a Christmas party at the Bolingbrook Golf Club, Romeoville police Cmdr. John Ferdinardo said. Mayor Roger Claar confirmed he had hosted a party from 5 to 7 p.m. Dec. 22 at the club for about 800 people, including elected officials and members of various boards, commissions and civic groups. Randy Farber, the club’s general manager, said the event was the only Christmas party there that evening and that the room was cleared by 9 p.m., but the club’s bar was open later.
When reached via e-mail Wednesday, Lawler said he has already begun "activities to resolve this."
"My family, friends and those I work with in the community, agree with and support this approach," Lawler wrote in his email.
He said that he is working with organizations that support youth to fulfill his community service hours. Tomczak noted that Lawler is a long-time volunteer in the community and often works with youth organizations.
"I place a high value on working with local organizations who help others," Lawler said in his email. "It’s the best part of my public life."
Alicia Fabbre is a freelance reporter.
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