Coles Co. (ECWd) –
Edited 9-3-2025 @1918: The statement within the police report attributed to Judge Sullivan appears to be incorrect. See this article (HERE).
Edgar County Judge Matthew Sullivan was arrested on August 16, 2025, for “Driving Under the Influence, Improper Lane Usage, and Illegal Transportation of Alcoholic liquor by a Driver in a Motor Vehicle.” We note that the video footage indicates he was unable to produce proof of insurance but there was no charge for that in the reports.
Yes, this incident happened almost 10 days ago, and we have not reported on it until today, for good reason. In order to properly report on the matter, we must first obtain the public records, which include the police reports and body cam footage, as well as dash cam footage. That process was delayed by the City of Charleston. Normally, a Freedom of Information Act request is to be provided in 5 days or less, with some exceptions. When it comes to police reports and mug shots, they have three days from the date of arrest, which did not happen in this case.
The production of the videos has created additional delays because they were put on a Blu-ray disk rather than a flash drive. Because of that, this article only contains the written police reports and our points of interest from the video we could watch on a TV. We hope to have the video up in another article as soon as we can get it transferred from the Blu-ray disk to a usable format for upload to YouTube.
We redacted the witness’s name on the police report as the city failed to redact that information.
While the video speaks volumes, there are numerous notable issues found in the report. When we get the videos posted, you will be able to confirm the report is spot on.
- I observed that Sullivan was slow to respond and appeared confused
- I also immediately detected an extremely strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emitting from the vehicle
- I observed an open can of beer in a koozie in a cup holder in the center console of the suspect vehicle
- When asked how much he had to drink, He said four Busch Lights
- Tells another officer he had 3 beers
- Vehicle inventory finds: 14 empty beer cans. Twelve of the fourteen cans were Busch Light Farm Rescue cans, which had been crushed and placed in a plastic bag, which was in a grey and black lunchbox/cooler. The other two empty cans were a Michelob Ultra and a Rolling Rock beer can.
- The Michelob Ultra beer can was located in a blue cooler, which had ice and four more unopened Bush Lights.
Sullivan refused to complete the field sobriety tests, alleging pain from a hip replacement. He also refused the breath analyzer. Such a refusal normally results in a mandatory suspension of their license.
As many suspected, he attempted to use his position as a judge to influence the outcome of the matter, according to the reports.
- “I’m a judge with the circuit. I’m just hoping to get off.” Matthew then proceeded to say, I’m okay with whatever you have to do, but- “
During the booking at the station, Sullivan appears to signal his future defense.
“Sullivan inquired what I would be saying during the Statutory Summary Suspension hearing, since we never saw him driving. I advised him that he was observed driving on a public roadway, and a witness had called in the violations. Sullivan said the call could be “total BS.” I advised him that the individual who called stopped to provide her information and a statement of violations she observed. Sullivan said he would be looking forward to the hearing.”
Considering there appears to be probable cause for the stop, his hearing may not go the way he wants, unless, of course, key officers do not show up and provide the information that is contained in the reports.
According to the court docket at this link, numerous motions have already been filed in the case, including a Petition To Rescind Summary Suspension. A request for an out-of-circuit judge has been made and the next hearing date set for September 30 at 9 am.
We will provide additional updates in future articles, to include the videos we have obtained.
A copy of the police reports can be downloaded at this link or viewed below.
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8 Comments
Dr. Watson
Posted at 16:49h, 07 SeptemberIn appreciation for the articles headline clean-up, I’ll offer the following scenario:
Good thing Sullivan didn’t have an unregistered firearm cased in the back of the cab, and that the arrest wasn’t too far from his residency’s jurisdiction. The Courts would have one helluva time sorting through the BS if the stop and arrest occurred on an interstate or county road in, some other jurisdiction, say Minnesota.
Daniel Robinson
Posted at 17:41h, 03 SeptemberIt won’t matter unless he quits drinking all together. Idk if Judge Sullivan is good or bad. I remember playing basketball with him at the YMCA and he has one of the best 3 point shots I’ve ever seen. No matter what justice sees us in the future weather we like it or not but alcohol behind the wheel is never good. There’s a reason he gkt pulled over to begin with and im sure even if it was a little to drink his mind was altered in some way but most of us have been there having our mind altered by meth, cocaine, heroin, pills. We all get our reality check. All I got to say is justice dont happen in the courtroom, it happens within ourselves and what we plan on doing about it. Justice cannot be done unless we make that decision to make sure we discipline ourselves to make ourself stronger. People can bitch about it being a judge but forreal its the alcohol that did it. Just because he went to school and chose a job that went against what most of us did you cant hate on the guy. I came into reality a long time ago that I was my problem and only one that can fix it is myself. A judge and do what he thinks is best but it was up to me to make the change. So all I can say is if alcohol made you get pulled over and go through all this is it really worth it. I wish I realized that when I was 17 and I would have my kids in my life. But no matter what I can either grow up now or keep doing the dumb shit I did back then. I chose to grow up. Just hope you take action on the real problem, nkt this legal matter.
Greg G
Posted at 08:43h, 02 SeptemberFirst offender conditional discharge one year. Fine of 2500.00.. Like I have said in the past, Until Judges, Police officers and Lawyers stop driving drunk nothing will change.
This case should be turned over to a special prosecutor. When this Judge kills someone in his next DUI maybe he will get the justice he deserves..
Keith Gosnell
Posted at 20:58h, 01 SeptemberIt is about time some justice came in Edgar County, I commend the Charlestown Officer for treating him the same as anyone else. I know to a lot of people this is all getting blown out of proportion simply because he is a public official, but I feel like everyones heard the horror stories about Edgar County a lot know them to be true. This event is the first of hopefully many reality checks. They have grown way too comfortable in thinking they can do anything and get away with it. I will hopefully soon be found fit to stand trial and represent my self pro se, allowing me to finally file an appeal over the trial he presided over. Associate Judge David Lewis is another who is in desperate need of a reality check, he has refused to allow me to speak or file motions and have them heard on my own behalf since his appointment of my cases, violating my 1st, amendment right to freedom of speech in telling me that those things have to be done through my lawyer, and that since they appointed one to my cases he speaks for me, which violates my 6th amendment rights and more. My public defender Nathaniel Harsy filed for a fitness evaluation without speaking with me about it after having stated in open court his intent to withdrawal..
Droopy: Master Sergeant
Posted at 05:32h, 01 SeptemberHe will walk free. Courts serve themselves and see to it that those they decide are not worthy. No concern for the law just a sense of power. Pitiful.
EP
Posted at 23:35h, 28 AugustOpen container can be loss of driving privileges’, for regular folks. Wonder what the judge would give a guy he showed up in court with these charges?
Jack Tarleton
Posted at 18:16h, 28 AugustThe motion for out of circuit judge is very appropriate since Judge Sullivan is a judge of the Fifth Circuit. They will assign someone from a neighboring circuit to hear the case. The Petition to Rescind is common in DUI cases. It has to be filed right away or you lose your right to challenge the suspension. The DUI case will probably be resolved with fines, supervision and significant alcohol counseling or treatment. The alcohol counseling and treatment probably should be a part of the Judicial Inquiry Board’s resolution of this matter as well. People say and do stupid things when they are drunk. That doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be punished, but it also means that the best way of dealing with it also includes making sure it doesn’t happen again. Fortunately, he was stopped before someone got hurt.
Dr. Watson
Posted at 18:51h, 03 SeptemberI suspect the SC chief will announce the assignment of Sangamon County Circuit Court Judge April Troemper to the case asap.