Leonard Lemons indicted by Grand Jury on 123015 for killing his two passengers on Dec. 7, 2015 in a car they stole in Chicago two days earlier.

Lemons pleads not guilty for killing his pals while driving stolen car DUI

From Chicago Tribune:
Lemons, of the 5300 block of South Cottage Grove Avenue in Chicago’s Washington Park community, also has been charged with reckless homicide, failing to report an accident causing death and possession of a stolen vehicle.

At the arraignment Thursday, Lake County Circuit Court Judge Christopher R. Stride informed Lemons of the possible sentences he could receive, if convicted. Stride said the most serious charges of driving under the influence of drugs in a fatal accident carries the possibility of six to 28 years in prison. The alcohol-related DUI charge could result in three to 14 years in prison, Stride said.

Stride said that while a probationary sentence or conditional discharge is possible under extraordinary circumstances, there is a presumption of prison time for a conviction on aggravated DUI charges involving drugs and alcohol in a fatal accident. …MORE

(Lake County, IL December 30, 2015) Lake County State’s Attorney Michael G. Nerheim announced that on December 30, 2015, a Lake County Grand Jury returned the following indictment: The Lake County Grand Jury has returned an indictment of reckless homicide against Leonard A. Lemons in the DUI deaths of two passengers after the vehicle he was driving, which was stolen, crashed. 

Leonard A Lemons Lake County Sheriff’s Office DUI double fatal on Dec 7 2015 in stolen car

From Chicago Tribune:
An 18-year-old Chicago driver has been charged with aggravated driving under the influence in the fatal Dec. 6 accident that killed two passengers after their stolen vehicle crashed into a tree south of downtown

An 18-year-old Chicago driver has been charged with aggravated driving under the influence in the fatal Dec. 6 accident that killed two passengers after their stolen vehicle crashed into a tree south of downtown Highland Park.

The driver, Leonard A. Lemons, appeared in court Dec. 7 on two counts of reckless homicide; two counts of aggravated driving under the influence in an accident causing death, and one count of unlawful possession of a stolen vehicle. Bail was set at $1 million.

Lemons, of the 5300 block of South Cottage Grove Avenue, Chicago, is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Dec 30 in Lake County Circuit Court in Waukegan.

According to police, the vehicle was traveling southbound on First Street as First turns into Oakwood Avenue at about 4:30 a.m.. The vehicle left the road in the 1600 block of Oakwood Avenue and crashed into a tree south of Walnut Street. A resident called 911 to report the accident.

One of the passengers, 16-year-old Joseph Belcher, of an unknown address in Chicago, was pronounced dead of multiple traumatic injuries at the scene at 4:45 a.m., according to a spokesperson for the Lake County Coroner’s office. Another male passenger was transported to Evanston Hospital and pronounced dead.

“We are very confident the vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed based on the amount of damage,” said Deputy Police Chief Timothy Wilinski. Wilinski denied a report that police were pursuing the vehicle when it crashed.

Police said the vehicle had been reported stolen to Chicago police two days earlier.

One of the passengers, 16-year-old Joseph Belcher, of an unknown address in Chicago, was pronounced dead of multiple traumatic injuries at the scene at 4:45 a.m., according to a spokesperson for the Lake County Coroner’s office. Another male passenger was transported to Evanston Hospital and pronounced dead.

From Highland Park Police:
On December 6, 2015 at approximately 4:30 a.m., Highland Park Police and Fire personnel responded to a traffic crash involving a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed that collided with a tree near the intersection Oakwood Avenue and Walnut Street. One occupant was critically injured and pronounced deceased at the scene. A second occupant was transported to Evanston Hospital where they were pronounced deceased. The identity of both occupants has not been determined at this time. Investigators are working with the Lake County Coroner and Cook County Medical Examiner to identify the deceased and notify next of kin.

In response to this traffic crash, the Major Crash Assistance Team (MCAT) responded immediately to thoroughly document the scene. The MCAT is a multi-jurisdictional entity that is comprised of traffic accident investigators. Investigating officials processed the scene. The preliminary investigation indicates that the vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed at the time of the collision. Additionally, investigators have determined that the vehicle involved in the accident was reported stolen to the Chicago Police Department on December 4, 2015.

This crash is being investigated by the Highland Park Police Accident Investigation Team with the assistance of the MCAT. Further information will be provided when available.