Crime & Safety
Highland Park Woman Found Guilty in 'Huffing' Case
Prosecutors say Carly Rousso had been huffing a cleaning product before she drove across four lanes of traffic in Highland Park and hit, and killed, 5-year-old Jaclyn Santos-Sacramento.
A judge has found Carly Rousso guilty on all charges against her, according to an article in TribLocal.
Rousso, then 18, was accused of driving her car across four lanes of Central Avenue in Highland Park Sept. 3, 2012. She struck and killed 5-year-old Jaclyn Santos-Sacramento, who was walking on the sidewalk with her family. Prosecutors say she had been huffing a cleaning product, causing her to be intoxicated.
Rousso’s attorney chose not to present any witnesses or evidence, according to TribLocal. The basic facts of the case were not in dispute.
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Instead, attorney Douglas Zeit argued that his client can’t be found guilty of being intoxicated while driving because the substance — difluorothane — that she was huffing is not legally listed as an intoxicant in Illinois.
Zeit filed a motion for acquittal before closing arguments Thursday, reiterating his argument, according to the Daily Herald. Judge James Booras denied it, saying the role of the court was not to determine the constitutionality of laws, just to enforce them.
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Just before the start of the trial Tuesday, Rousso pleaded guilty to one of the charges against her, opting to go to trial only on the aggravated DUI charges. She pleaded guilty to one count of reckless homicide, which is a lesser charge than the DUI.
Sentencing is set for July 10, according to the Daily Herald.
You can read the full TribLocal article here.
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