WHITE CO., Ill.—Court records show that Camron Gunter, the 20-year-old behind the wheel of a fatal accident early this morning, had previously been charged with DUI, the charge dismissed in exchange for a plea to another charge.
White County court documents show that during an August 23, 2013 traffic stop, Gunter, then 19, blew a .076 on a portable breathalyzer…just under the legal limit of .08. The prosecution under such a circumstance can still pursue conviction on a DUI under such a circumstance, as the state has a ‘zero tolerance’ policy for underage drinkers/drivers.
However, White County then-assistant prosecutor Denton Aud made Gunter an offer of a guilty plea to the Unlawful Consumption of Alcohol by a Minor charge Gunter also received, and ensured that with the dismissal of the DUI charge, Gunter was forced to go through the same punishment as if he had been convicted on the DUI: he received a six-month summary suspension of his license and had to attend MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) courses, along with a fine of $1,372 (none of which has been paid) and two years of Conditional Discharge, meaning if he got in trouble again, the DUI could be reinstated and more severe punishment could be handed out.
Now, despite having a suspended license, Gunter is alleged to have been behind the wheel of a vehicle last night, with four other kids in the truck, when an accident ended the life of Gregory Dillman, after Dillman was partially ejected from the vehicle when it rolled.
Detractors on Disclosure‘s Facebook page have all day been attempting to steer the conversation away from the alcohol factor, but the charges show that not only was that an issue in the 12:20 a.m. accident out on Burnt Prairie Blacktop that lead to Dillman’s death, but what happened afterward paints a pretty bad picture as well.
Camron Gunter
Gunter’s charges are as follows:
Count 1 is Aggravated Driving Under the Influence (DUI) of Alcohol, in that Gunter “knowingly drove a 2003 GMC pickup on County Rd 2550 N, westbound at a half-mile west of CR 750 E in White County, while under the influence of alcohol, when in so doing, was involved in a motor vehicle accident that resulted in the death of Gregory Dillman, when the violation was a proximate cause of the death.” This is a Class 2 felony.
Count 2 is Aggravated Battery, in that Gunter, “in committing a battery, knowingly caused bodily harm to MSgt. Dustin King of the Illinois State Police, in that he pulled away his wrist as he was being handcuffed and struck King in the face, knowing King to be a peace officer engaged in the execution of his official duties.” This is a Class 2 felony.
Count 3 is Resisting a Police Officer, in that Gunter “knowingly resisted the performance of Trooper Paul Howard of ISP of an unauthorized act within his official capacity, being the arrest of Gunter, knowing Howard to be a peace officer engaged in the execution of his official duties in that he resisted being secured in handcuffs multiple times after being told he was under arrest.” This is a Class A misdemeanor.
Count 4 is Unlawful Consumption of Alcoholic Liquor, a Class A misdemeanor.
Count 5 is Unlawful Delivery of Alcoholic Liquor to a Minor, in that “after purchasing alcoholic liquor, Gunter knowingly gave the alcoholic liquor to Kenley Masterson, a person under the age of 21.”
The charges can be viewed here.
Gunter was also issued a separate DUI charge, as well as four traffic tickets which indicate the conditions under which the vehicle was traveling: Failure to Reduce Speed, Transporting Alcohol (open container), Driving on Suspended License (six-month summary suspension from the August 23 incident hadn’t been lifted yet) and Failure to Wear Seatbelt as a driver.
Others in the vehicle were not wearing seat belts, according to ISP.
A preliminary hearing for Gunter has been set for February 2, 2014.