Dixon school bus driver pleads guilty to driving drunk with students on board

DIXON – A Dixon school bus driver pleaded guilty Thursday to driving drunk in the spring of 2019 while nine students were on board.

Timothy M. Cloutier, 56, of Dixon, entered an open plea in Lee County Court on Thursday to one count of aggravated driving while under the influence of alcohol, a Class 2 Felony.

Prosecutors said that on the afternoon of May 14, 2019, Cloutier was driving an Illinois Central School Bus Co. bus filled with nine students all under the age of 18 when he made multiple wrong turns, hopped a curb and drove the bus off the roadway.

Another bus driver reported Cloutier's driving to the bus company's dispatch center, claiming that he was "all over the road," according to prosecutors.

Police were called, stopped Cloutier and administered a field breathalyzer test. The test showed Cloutier's blood alcohol level around .224, exceeding the .08 legal limit.

Cloutier was arrested and charged on May 28 with two counts of aggravated DUI, one count of reckless conduct and nine counts of endangering the life of a child.

He posted 10% of a $25,000 bond in June, court records show.

Per Cloutier's open plea, the remaining 11 counts will be dropped.

His sentence, which could range from 3 to 7 years in prison, will be determined by Lee County Presiding Judge Jacquelyn D. Ackert after a Dec. 3 status hearing.