Judge Cornelius Lowers Sentence For 10-Time DUI Convict

JOLIET, IL —A 57-year-old Joliet man sentenced to 11 years prison for his 10th DUI conviction will be getting out of prison two years earlier because Will County Circuit Judge Vincent Cornelius changed his mind and decided to give Ronald Meimers a lower sentence, after all.

On Jan. 14, Joliet Patch reported that Meimers faced between six and 60 years of imprisonment after pleading guilty to aggravated driving under the influence, a Class X felony. After her client drew a prison sentence of 11 years, Assistant Will County Public Defender Amy Christiansen filed a motion asking the judge to reconsider his sentence.

According to her motion, Judge Cornelius failed to consider the health conditions of Meimers' fiancé; the duration of Meimers' sobriety; the length of time Meimers has been a law-abiding citizen; the Joliet man's actions while incarcerated, including his service to the Will County Jail in being a pod worker, as well as his attendance at the classes offered; and other factors mentioned in mitigation at the January sentencing.

Christiansen argued that the sentence of 11 years imprisonment was excessive.

According to court records, on April 13, 2019, Meimers was passed out in the driver's seat of a vehicle along Interstate 55 with open alcohol inside. He was taken to the hospital and had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.274.

A second blood draw for law enforcement purposes showed a BAC of 0.245, which is still triple the legal limit to be considered drunk in Illinois.

Meimers was arrested by the Illinois State Police and charged with a Class X felony DUI offense.

At the time of his 10th DUI, Meimers lived in the apartment units on Joliet's West Birch Lane.

After reconsidering the defense motion last week, Judge Cornelius agreed to lower Meimers' sentence from 11 years to nine years, court records reflect.

Meimers also gets credit for the 663 days he spent in the Will County Jail since April 2019.

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