Drunken Driver’s Ed Teacher Found Passed Out in Driver’s Ed Car Outside High School: Cops

JOLIET, IL — A driver’s education teacher was found passed out behind the wheel of a driver’s ed car parked outside the main entrance of Joliet Central High School, police said, but school staff did not alert the cops until a full week later.

Once the law learned of 46-year-old Nestor Nowak’s alleged indiscretion, he was charged with misdemeanor driving under the influence. Nowak, a Shorewood resident, surrendered to the Joliet police Tuesday and was released on $1,000 bail.

A Joliet Central employee found Nowak slumped over the steering wheel of a white Ford driver’s ed car about 11 a.m. on April 6, police said. Fearing that Nowak was suffering from some medical issue, police said, the employee called for an ambulance.

Nowak was taken to Presence St. Joseph Medical Center. A blood draw showed his alcohol content was more than three times the .08 percent legal limit for driving, police said.

A Joliet Central human resources staffer reached out to the detective assigned to the school on April 13, police said. A warrant was then obtained for Nowak's arrest.

High school district spokeswoman Kristine Schlismann said Nowak was placed on leave but would not elaborate on whether he was still being paid.

Nowak was able to work as a Joliet high school district driver’s ed teacher in spite of pleading guilty to drunken driving in July 2014. He was sentenced in that case to a year of court supervision.

A special prosecutor was appointed to Nowak’s 2014 driving under the influence case because his father, Martin Nowak, had been the longtime undersheriff to former Will County Sheriff Paul Kaupas.

The motion to appoint a special prosecutor also said that Nestor Nowak worked for the county at River Valley Justice Center but did not specify in what capacity.

Nestor Nowak | image via Joliet Police Department