By Adam Studzinski

BLOOMINGTON – A woman convicted of aggravated DUI for the 2012 death of Lauren Leffler, 21, has filed for executive clemency.

Katie Lawson, 26, of Bloomington, was the driver of the vehicle which struck and killed Leffler in downtown Bloomington. She’s currently serving a 12 year prison sentence in the Logan County Correctional Center.

In Lawson’s filing, she claimed her medical condition – an auto-immune disease – cannot be effectively treated in prison. That’s a claim McLean County State’s Attorney Jason Chambers rejected.

“That’s already been hashed out in front of Judge (Casey) Costigan, it was originally brought up at the original sentencing,” said Chambers. “After she was on DOC they petitioned to have her brought back here to the court again for an additional hearing after the sentencing hearing and there was testimony that there’s no reason this cannot be treated while she’s serving out her sentence in DOC.”

Chambers added his main concern is public safety.

“What we have is somebody who, while committing a DUI, sped through the community, blew through traffic control signals, and hit Lauren Leffler and Nicholas Jefferson, and killed miss Leffler and injured Mr. Jefferson,” said Chambers. “Not only did she do that, but rather than taking accountability for it, fled the scene.

“I have considerable concerns about saying someone like that should have their slate wiped clean by a pardon.”

A state review board will consider Lawson’s request and make a recommendation to the governor, who has the final say on the matter.

Adam Studzinski can be reached at [email protected].