Beth Hundsdorfer
Belleville News-Democrat
BELLEVILLE, Ill. — A state prison guard who moonlighted as a drug and alcohol instructor faces a felony forgery charge alleging he signed a certificate that a driving under the influence defendant completed court-ordered treatment when the instructor knew that he didn’t.
Kevan Caliper, 42, of Swansea was charged on Saturday by St. Clair County State’s Attorney Brendan Kelly.
“Judges make difficult decisions every day that can affect lives, as well as public safety, and those decisions must be based on trustworthy information,” Kelly said.
Neither Caliper nor his lawyer James Stern could be reached for comment.
Caliper’s business, First Choice DUI Services and Evaluation, is located at 219 S. Illinois St. in Belleville.
Caliper also is employed at Southwestern Illinois Correctional Center in Washington Park. He has worked for the Illinois Department of Corrections since 1994. According to state records, Caliper made $62,446 in annual salary in 2013. He was last paid on Aug. 14.
Southwestern Illinois Correctional Center is located at 950 Kingshighway in Washington Park. It houses 694 male inmates at the minimum security prison. The prison is a substance abuse treatment facility. Caliper worked as a guard at the prison and provided no substance abuse treatment to the inmates there, said Tom Shaer, IDOC spokesman.
Caliper was locked out of the facility after the charges were issued on Saturday, Shaer said. He will face a hearing to determine whether he will face suspension.
There is no evidence indicating Caliper’s conduct impacted his state employment, Kelly said.
In Illinois, anyone arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs must undergo an alcohol and drug evaluation before sentencing can occur for the DUI offense or restricted or full driving privileges can be granted by the Office of the Secretary of State.
The evaluation is done to determine the extent of the defendant’s alcohol or drug use and the defendant’s risk to public safety.
During the evaluation, the evaluator reviews the defendant’s driving history, chemical test results and test scores, then conducts an interview to determine the defendant’s risk level and the court orders recommended treatment, based on the evaluation.
Treatment providers submit documents to the courts certifying that DUI defendants have successfully completed court-ordered alcohol or drug treatment through a service paid for by defendants. The treatment provider decides if a defendant has completed the mandatory hours of treatment. Defendants who do not complete the treatment can face stiffer penalties, including license revocation and jail time.
The Illinois Department of Human Services audits the evaluators. Discrepancies in Caliper’s paperwork prompted a criminal investigation by the Illinois Attorney General’s Public Integrity Unit that was then passed to the St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s Office, Kelly said.
IDHS’ Division of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse summarily suspended Caliper’s provider license in the summer of 2012, said Januari Smith, spokeswoman for the Department of Human Services. During an on-site inspection of Caliper’s company, First Choice DUI Services and Evaluations in Belleville, the Division of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse found incomplete and missing paperwork that created a serious concern that court-mandated services had not been provided to clients. As a result, the Department of Human Services immediately moved to suspend Caliper’s license and referred the matter to the Attorney General’s Office, the Office of Executive Inspector General and the Secretary of State’s office for further review.
A person can become an alcoholism and substance treatment and intervention provider by holding a certification as a certified alcohol and drug counselor, or be a licensed clinical professional counselor, a physician, psychologist or licensed social worker. Evaluations typically cost because $90 and $120. Risk education fees are between $100 and $125.
Evidence from the investigation also was passed to Madison County State’s Attorney Thomas Gibbons, Jersey County State’s Attorney Benjamin Goetten and Clay County State’s Attorney Marilyn Brant.
Kelly suspects there may be others. He is offering immunity for 90 days to those defendants who report information about treatment providers who released fraudulent certificates of completed treatment. The immunity does not apply to the DUI or other criminal cases under which the treatment was ordered, but applies only to the transaction between the DUI defendant and treatment providers providing fraudulent treatment certifications.Those with information should contact Investigator Steve Johnson of the St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s Office at 618-277-3892.
Forgery is a class 3 felony, punishable by two to five years in prison, or 30 months probation and a fine up $25,000.