CRYSTAL LAKE – A Crystal Lake man again faces drunken driving charges three years after he was convicted of operating a snowmobile while intoxicated in a crash that killed his childhood friend, TV anchorman Randy Salerno.
Scott Hirschey, 49, of 1919 Blue Pine Drive, was arrested July 27 on suspicion of driving under the influence, driving with a blood-alcohol level of more than 0.08 percent and illegal transportation of alcohol.
He is to appear in municipal court at 8:30 a.m. Sept. 11 on the misdemeanor charges, according to the Crystal Lake Police Department.
Hirschey was sentenced in Wisconsin to three years of probation in July 2009 after pleading no contest to homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle in an agreement with prosecutors. He could
have been sentenced to 25 years in prison.
Hirschey also was ordered to perform 100 hours of community service, undergo alcohol and psychological and grief assessment, and submit to any recommended counseling.
Salerno, a 45-year-old Crystal Lake native and CBS 2 Chicago morning news anchor, was riding on the back of a snowmobile built for one person that Hirschey was driving on Jan. 24, 2008. Hirschey lost control and crashed about 20 miles north of Eagle River, Wis.
At his sentencing in July 2009, Hirschey apologized for the pain he had caused Salerno’s family.
“I wish I could turn back the clock and have my friend with us today,“ Hirschey said when he addressed the court. “I’d trade places with him, but I can’t.”
Randy Salerno had a wife and three children. His wife, Irene Salerno, had asked the judge for leniency.
Vilas County District Attorney Albert Moustakis stressed that the 2009 sentencing hearing was about alcohol and that Hirschey had a blood-alcohol level of 0.18 percent at the time of the crash. Moustakis asked that Hirschey not be incarcerated but instead be sentenced to three years’ probation and community service along with the alcohol assessment.
Moustakis asked for the assessment because he said he believed that Hirschey has been drinking since the crash. He showed two photos to the judge that he said showed Hirschey in situations were it looked as though he was drinking alcohol.
Hirschey’s defense attorney, John Hyland, said Hirschey was not drinking when the photos were taken.
Moustakis wasn’t in his office Tuesday afternoon and couldn’t be reached for comment. Hyland was on vacation and couldn’t be reached for comment.
No current phone number or attorney was listed for Hirschey in court records.
It wasn’t clear whether Hirschey was still on probation in Wisconsin or whether he could face any additional charges there.