Judge increases bond in fatal DUI
A Lake County judge increased the bond and imposed new bond conditions Tuesday on the Highland Park woman charged with DUI in the Labor Day crash that killed a 5-yearold.
Carly Rousso, 18, appeared before Associate Judge Joseph Waldeck after the City of Highland Park asked that her bond be raised to $50,000 and bond conditions modified.
Rousso was taken into custody by Lake County sheriff ’s deputies after the bond hearing in Waukegan. She was released about three hours later after posting $5,000, according to Lake County Jail records.
Highland Park prosecuting attorney Lawrence LaLuzerne asked that Rousso get a curfew of 9 p.m. to 7 a.m.; remain at her residence unless she is in treatment or in class; not operate any motor vehicles while her case is pending, and not use drugs, alcohol or any illegal substances.
Rousso had previously been released from custody on a $3,000 personal recognizance bond, according to court records.
Defense attorney Douglas Zeit did not object to the conditions.
He also said Rousso, a student at the College of Lake County, was attending a treatment program in Lake Bluff four to five nights a week.
Waldeck agreed to the bond increase.
“She is to be driven by a parent to and from school,” Waldeck said. He also said that he will require Rousso to submit to random drug and alcohol testing and pay for the testing, and he’ll require her parents to be present during the testing.
Rousso’s parents stood by her side in front of the judge for the duration of Tuesday’s hearing. They did not comment after court.
Rousso faces up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $2,500 if she is convicted of the Class A misdemeanor of driving under the influence of an intoxicating compound, LaLuzerne said.
She is accused of driving onto the sidewalk in the 700 block of Central Avenue, striking 5-year-old Jaclyn Santos-Sacramento of Highland Park, her mother and her two younger brothers. The brothers were treated and released the day of the accident.
Highland Park Deputy Police Chief David Schwarz has said that the accident remained under investigation and that felony charges of aggravated DUI and reckless homicide could be filed against Rousso.
“There is evidence that may indicate the use of an aerosol inhalant by the driver,” Schwarz said. “That is part of the investigation that is being considered. But again, we are waiting on toxicology results.”
Two former Country Club Hills residents are charged with pimping young teens from Iowa in Chicago, federal prosecutors said Tuesday.
Malik McKee, 19, and his sister Shauntina McKee, 23, both of Iowa City, Iowa, and Willie Woods, 41, of Toledo, Ohio, were charged Tuesday with conspiracy to transport minors across state lines to engage in prostitution, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office.
The McKees were arrested Monday in Iowa City, and Woods was arrested Friday in Toledo, federal prosecutors said.
They sex-trafficking allegation accuses them of using coercion, force and threats of force to convince teens from Iowa City to become prostitutes in Chicago.
The investigation began April 25 when a 14-year-old girl sneaked out of a hotel room in the 9100 block of South Cottage Grove and called her mother in Iowa, authorities said. Her mother called Chicago Police, who contacted federal authorities.
Sex-trafficking of minors carries a minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum of life, plus a $250,000 fine.