Crime & Safety
Driver Appeals in Crash That Killed St. Charles Couple
Aurora woman fails in bid to stay out of prison during her appeal of her aggravated DUI conviction.
An Aurora woman convicted of killing a St. Charles couple in a 2009 fatal crash near Elburn will remain in prison as she waits on an appeal in her case.
This week, the 2nd Appellate District in Elgin declined to grant Alia Bernard a stay of her sentence — six years for aggravated DUI in the deaths of Wade and Denise Thomas. The court also declined to set an appeal bond, which could have allowed her to post money for her release while her appeal is pending, records show.
A Kane County judge previously denied Bernard's request to withdraw her guilty plea in the case, prompting the appeal on grounds that, among other things, include claims of an ineffective first attorney and missteps in how prosecutors re-indicted Bernard.
Find out what's happening in Genevawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Filings in the appeal are expected to be ongoing until early next year, according to court documents.
Related Articles:
- Reduced Sentence Sought by Woman In Fatal DUI Crash
- 7 Years for Driver in Crash that Killed St. Charles Couple
- Aurora Woman Pleads Guilty to Charges from Crash that Killed St. Charles Couple
- Judge Rules Charge in 2009 Crash that Killed St. Charles Couple is Constitutional
- Driver in Fatal Crash To Challenge DUI Charges
