Rockton man charged with Aggravated DUI Involving Death
Anthony J. Moe was booked into Winnebago County Jail the next morning.
After first responders found a single vehicle in a ditch on Route 173 and pronounced a male passenger dead, the 19-year-old Rockton driver was charged with Reckless Homicide. He was uninjured. Two passengers were taken to a local hospital.
According to a press release [PDF] from the Winnebago County Coroner's Office, Winnebago County and Harlem-Roscoe Fire personnel arrived on the scene at Route 173 east of Mitchell Road shortly after 5:15 p.m on Thursday, August 21, 2025.
During the preliminary investigation by Winnebago County Sheriff's deputies, they "determined the vehicle was traveling westbound on Route 173, when the driver lost control, hit the curb and rolled several times before coming to a rest in the ditch."
The Winnebago County MCAT (Major Crash Assistance Team) arrived on the scene and is continuing to investigate the incident. The coroner has identified the deceased passenger as 22 year-old Nycholas Spears. His sister Bryonna Blanch says that he was thrown from the car. His mother is collecting donations for his funeral in Peoria.
According to Winnebago County Sheriff's inmate records, Anthony J. Moe of Rockton was booked into Winnebago County Jail at 5:18 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 22 2025 and was scheduled to appear in court at 1:30 p.m. The Winnebago County State’s Attorney’s Office charged him with Reckless Homicide, Aggravated DUI Involving Death, and Aggravated DUI with Great Bodily Harm. Winnebago County 17th District Court records show that Moe's home address is in the South Beloit School District. He is presumed innocent until proven guilty in the court of law.
An emergency order of protection was filed against Moe in November 2024 and was terminated by mutual consent in January, according to Winnebago County 17th District Court records. At the time, the judge ruled, "Parties shall have no direct or indirect contact with one another whatsoever." In 2023 he pleaded guilty to not wearing a seatbelt while driving. He seems to have been wearing one this week.
