Monee man gets 7 years in DUI crash that killed Mokena couple

JOLIET – A Monee man was sentenced Wednesday to spend seven years in prison for a 2013 DUI crash that killed an elderly Mokena couple.

John L. Wiesch, 43, could have received probation, but Judge Sarah Jones did not find the necessary "extraordinary circumstances" applied to Wiesch, who is raising two young daughters as a single father. Wiesch, who operates a masonry business, faced six to 28 years in prison after pleading guilty to two counts of aggravated driving under the influence.

On Sept. 26, 2013, Wiesch's Ford F-250 ran a stop sign at LaGrange and Pauling roads near Frankfort and struck the side of a 2013 Toyota Avalon. William Slager, 84, died at the scene and his wife, Harriet Slager, 82, died from her injuries the next day. According to prosecutors, Wiesch initially told police someone else was driving his vehicle.

The Slagers had been married for 64 years. Despite losing his right arm 40 years ago, Bill worked as a bus driver for a Christian school after he retired from his career as a garbageman. Harriet was a hospice volunteer, led Bible study groups and loved hosting company for dinner.

Despite prosecutors' objections, Jones allowed Wiesch one week to finalize arrangements for custody of his 13- and 9-year-old daughters.

"He has to make sure he has in place a system for his daughters and ... their living conditions," defense attorney Glenn Jazwiec told the judge. "How do you [really] prepare for this?"

"There was a lot of time to be prepared for this eventuality," Jones said. "It's a hard struggle for me [to see] since the day he pled guilty, you're telling me zero has been done."

Wiesch acknowledged to Jones he understands he will be sent to prison next week.