The social networking site Facebook is full of photos of college students partying it up over the weekend. The pictures often seem to come back to bite the subjects in the butt, and one Campton Hills woman is in serious trouble in just such a case.
Erika Scoliere, 20, pleaded not guilty to aggravated drunken driving and reckless homicide charges in a July 2007 collision in South Elgin that killed a motorcyclist.
After the young woman was charged, Associate Judge Allen Anderson permitted her to continue attending college at the University of Dayton, in Ohio, as she awaited trail. However, Scoliere was ordered to check in with court officials weekly by phone. She also was not allowed to drink alcohol or be around people who are drinking.
In a hearing last year, a judge determined she had violated her bond because she never contacted the court services department for any of her required check-ins.
And then, to make matters worse, South Elgin police found pictures of the defendant drinking with friends on Facebook.
One of the photo's captions read, "Ten minutes later, Erika passed out in my bed. Ha. Ha. Ha."
The pictures were presented to Circuit Judge Thomas Mueller in a Wednesday court hearing. Taking into account Scoliere's previous bond violation, Mueller issued his decision:
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"I'm not going to jail her. I don't think that serves any purpose. She has now earned the privilege of wearing the SCRAM bracelet."
The SCRAM—Secure Continuous Remote Alcohol Monitor—checks for alcohol consumption via perspiration every hour and can alert authorities if necessary.
Scoliere, who admitted to the recent violation, cried as she left the courtroom.
Matt Bartosik is the editor of Off the Rocks' next issue and a "between blogs" blogger.
