Teen Charged In Fatal Drag Race Death Enters Treatment Center

A Lake County judge on Tuesday refused to reconsider lowering the bond for an Antioch teenager charged with the death of another local teen.

Police say Jeremy Betancourt was behind the wheel of a car that went airborne and rolled over on Illinois Route 120 in Gurnee late last month, killing 16-year-old Cynthia N. Perez.

Betancourt faces charges of reckless homicide, aggravated street racing and an upgraded charge of aggravated DUI after marijuana was allegedly found in his system.

According to the Lake County News-Sun, Betancourt was released on 10 percent of his $100,000 bond early last weekend to enter a 21-day evaluation and treatment program for depression and drug issues at a facility in Streamwood.

Prosecutors were seeing to reinstate the $250,000 bond fearing Betancourt could leave the facility and citing the seriousness of the charges, but Judge Raymond Collins insisted that Betancourt needed the evaluation and treatment.

Betancourt will be under a 24-hour curfew at his mother’s home when he leaves the facility until a new bond hearing takes place.

The driver of the other car, 19-year-old Michael Dawson, is charged with aggravated street racing and cited for operating a vehicle with expired registration. He remains jailed on a $250,000 bond.