Addison Man Accused of DUI With 22-Month-Old Child in Back Seat
Alexis Lara of Addison is charged with four counts of Aggravated Driving Under the Influence and multiple misdemeanor and petty traffic offenses, including Endangering the Health or Life of a Child.
“THE FACT THAT MR. LARA IS CURRENTLY ON PROBATION FOR AGGRAVATED DUI AND IS NOW CHARGED WITH YET ANOTHER NON-DETAINABLE DUI OFFENSE, ILLUSTRATES THE NEED TO STRENGTHEN THE STATE’S SAFE-T-ACT TO ALLOW A JUDGE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DETAIN AN INDIVIDUAL BASED ON THE FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF EACH PARTICULAR DEFENDANT’S CASE,” BOB BERLIN STATED.
ELMHURST – DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Elmhurst Chief of Police Michael McLean announced today that the Court has denied the State’s motion to deny pre-trial release for an Addison man accused of DUI with a twenty-two-month-old child in the back seat of his vehicle. Alexis Lara, 24 (d.o.b. 7/22/2001) of the 100 block of N. May Street, appeared in First Appearance Court this morning charged with four counts of Aggravated DUI (Class 2 Felony) and multiple misdemeanor and petty traffic offenses including Endangering the Health or Life of a Child. As part of his conditions of pre-trial release, Lara shall be outfitted with a SCRAM device, shall not possess or consume alcohol or controlled substance other than as medically prescribed and is prohibited from operating a motor vehicle.
On March 29, 2026, at approximately 9:46 p.m., Elmhurst police officers received a call of a disturbance involving a woman striking the window of a dark colored SUV near the area of Schiller Street and Hampshire Drive. Upon their arrival, officers allegedly observed a vehicle matching the description of the SUV having difficulty maintaining its lane and veering towards the opposite lane of traffic. An officer pulled the vehicle over in the area of Schiller Street and Clinton Avenue and made contact with the male driver, later identified as Lara. Also in the vehicle were Lara’s wife and their twenty-two-month-old child. It is alleged that when speaking to Lara, the officer observed that Lara had red, bloodshot, watery eyes, slurred speech and smelled of an alcoholic based beverage. It is further alleged that the officer observed three open bottles of Modelo beer in the vehicle. After performing standardized field sobriety tests, Lara was arrested and taken into custody. At the police station, Lara provided a breath sample that allegedly revealed his BAC to be .208. Lara has two previous convictions for DUI and is currently on probation for Aggravated DUI.
“Driving is a privilege, not a right,” Berlin said. “In DuPage County, we have absolutely zero tolerance for anyone who endangers public safety by getting behind the wheel after they have been drinking. What I find unconscionable in this case are the allegations that with a .208 BAC, Mr. Lara, who is currently on probation for aggravated DUI, put his twenty-two-month-old child in the car and then proceeded to drive, endangering the lives of everyone in that vehicle. The fact that Mr. Lara is currently on probation for aggravated DUI and is now charged with yet another non-detainable DUI offense, illustrates the need to strengthen the State’s Safe-T-Act to allow a judge the opportunity to detain an individual based on the facts and circumstances of each particular defendant’s case. I thank the Elmhurst Police Department whose efforts in this matter may have prevented a tragedy. I also thank Assistant State’s Attorneys Rob Willis and Daniel Orescanin for their efforts in securing charges against Mr. Lara.”
“Drunk driving is deadly, but it is also 100% preventable,” McLean said. “The defendant not only unnecessarily risked the lives of other motorists, but he also risked the life of the young child he was driving with. I am grateful our officers located this dangerous driver and removed him from the streets before tragedy occurred. I also thank State’s Attorney Bob Berlin for his commitment to keep DuPage County roadways safe through strong prosecution of Illinois DUI laws.”
Lara’s next court appearance is scheduled for April 27, 2026, in front of Judge Ann Celine O’Hallaren Walsh.
Members of the public are reminded that this complaint contains only charges and is not proof of the defendant’s guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
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