Iowa man faces charges for fifth DUI after DeKalb arrest

SYCAMORE – An Iowa man facing felony charges after his fifth drunken-driving arrest was expected to be released from jail Tuesday after posting $500 bond.

Steven P. DePaepe, 50, of the 5300 block of 56th Avenue Court East, Bettendorf, Iowa, was charged with aggravated driving under the influence and driving with a revoked or suspended license. If convicted of aggravated driving under the influence, a Class 2 felony, DePaepe could face three to seven years in prison.

Motorists reported DePaepe’s driving to the Illinois State Police shortly before 10 a.m. Sunday. An ISP trooper reported that he saw the tan Chevrolet swerving and crossing over the center line and fog line, according to court records.

After pulling DePaepe over at the westbound exit ramp to the DeKalb Oasis on Interstate 88, the trooper could smell alcohol and noticed glassy eyes and slurred speech. When asked how much he had had to drink, DePaepe responded “too much.” He further told the trooper that his Mountain Dew bottle contained vodka, according to court reports.

Assistant State’s Attorney Alesandra Friend told Chief Judge Robbin Stuckert that it was DePaepe’s fifth drunken-driving arrest and asked that bond be set at $50,000. Friend said some of DePaepe’s prior drunken-driving arrests ended with convictions of lesser crimes.

The judge set bond at $5,000. She also ordered DePaepe not to drink alcohol and told him that he would be fitted with Secure Continuous Remote Alcohol Monitoring bracelet.

The man’s wife, who wasn’t identified in court, said she would post the $500 needed for his release from the DeKalb County Jail and promised the judge she would drive him the two hours from Bettendorf, Iowa, to Sycamore for each court appearance.

Jail officials said DePaepe remained in custody as of Tuesday afternoon awaiting the SCRAM bracelet.

– Brett Rowland