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player ready...A potential plea deal for an Antioch-area woman who fled the state after being charged with DUI in connection with the death of a man last summer may be presented to a Lake County Circuit Court judge next Tuesday.
Defense attorney Greg Nikitas, who represents Leena Ultsch, told Judge Patricia Fix Wednesday that following discussions with prosecutors, a fully negotiated plea deal may be ready for her consideration next week.
Fix scheduled a hearing on the matter for 1:30 p.m. next Tuesday.
Ultsch was charged with aggravated DUI after the Aug. 26, 2015, death of Gregory Boyes, 50, of unincorporated Antioch, who died after a vehicle struck the motorcycle he was riding on Route 173 near Linden Lane in Antioch. She was also charged with failing to report an accident with injuries and failing to give aid.
While free on bond for those charges, Ultsch failed a drug test and then fled to Wyoming, according to prosecutors.
After failing the drug test, officials said Ultsch did not show up for a March 30 court date, and then was arrested April 6 by police near Green River, Wyo.
On April 8, she waived extradition and was returned to Lake County, according to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
Local investigators at first thought Boyes, who was not wearing a helmet at the time of his death, had gone off the roadway in a single-vehicle crash, but later found vehicle debris nearby.
About six hours later, Ultsch called the sheriff’s office to say she had been involved in a crash and left the scene because she panicked, authorities said. Officials said she told investigators she had been drinking wine the night of the accident.
Ultsch had prior DUI convictions in 2004 and 2005, according to the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office.
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