Illinois state Rep. Kam Buckner eyes plea deal before DUI case goes to trial

By GREG BISHOP for THE ILLINOIS RADIO NETWORK

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (IRN) — A state lawmaker from Chicago who pleaded not guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol in Springfield could begin working on a plea deal, his attorney said Monday.

State Rep. Kam Buckner, D-Chicago, was arrested earlier this year in the overnight hours when lawmakers were in the spring session. Police reports of the March 28 arrest say he was asleep in his car at an intersection and officers waiting through four traffic signal cycles.

IL State Rep. Kam Buckner (D-Chicago)

Monday, after a pre-trial hearing in Springfield, Buckner declined to comment. Buckner’s attorney, Tom Bordenkircher, said another hearing date was set for Jan. 6 in Springfield.

“That means that we’re going to try and resolve it before it goes to trial,” Bordenkircher said.

Part of that includes Buckner getting a drug and alcohol evaluation, which Bordenkircher said has already been done.

“And once that’s done, if it’s satisfactory to the state and the judge, you can usually work out a plea and so that’s already been done so we’re working on a plea,” Bordenkircher said.

Buckner’s case is “kind of run of the mill,” Bordenkircher said.

A police body camera captured the moment officers approached Buckner before he was arrested.

“You want to tell me why you’re passed out here?” the officer asked as he approached Buckner.

“I’m really just tired, man, I’ve been here for four days,” Buckner said. “I’m a state rep. I just fell asleep.”

“You know about how many drinks you’ve had tonight?” the officer asked.

“I had one,” Buckner said.

“One? Just that one right there?” the officer said pointing to an empty plastic drink cup in the center console.

The video also shows Buckner holding up the plastic cup and telling the officer it was someone else’s.

“You know it’s illegal to have open alcohol in the car, though,” the officer said.

Buckner complied with a field sobriety test. The officer said he failed. Buckner was handcuffed and taken into custody after refusing to submit a breath test.

Buckner has pleaded not guilty to DUI.

About a month after Buckner’s DUI arrest, state Rep. Steven Reick, R-Woodstock, was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol. He pleaded guilty this summer and got supervision.

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