ALTON – Madison County authorities have charged multiple Riverbend residents in separate cases of driving under the influence of alcohol.
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Joshua M. Lumpkins, 39, of Alton, was charged with two counts of aggravated driving while under the influence, both Class 4 felonies, on Dec. 16, 2025.
Lumpkins allegedly drove a Ford Fusion on Highland Avenue in Alton on Aug. 18, 2025 while under the influence of alcohol and while knowing the vehicle was not covered by a liability insurance policy. Charging documents state that at the time of the offense, the concentration of alcohol in his blood, breath, or other bodily substance was 0.08 or more.
Lumpkins was ordered released from custody pending trial in the case presented by the Alton Police Department.
A Godfrey man was also charged with driving under the influence in a separate felony case. 36-year-old Lance R. Gardner was charged on Dec. 22, 2025 with one count each of felon in possession of a weapon (a Class 3 felony) and driving while under the influence (a Class A misdemeanor).
On Dec. 10, 2025, Gardner reportedly drove a Chevrolet Silverado on 9th Street in Alton while under the influence of alcohol. He is additionally accused of possessing a “retractable baton,” a weapon which was unlawful for him to possess after his 2024 felony conviction of unlawful possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance.
The Madison County Sheriff’s Office presented the latest case against Gardener, who was also granted pretrial release from custody.
Alma Meraz, 38, of Caseyville, was charged in another unrelated case from Dec. 15, 2025 with two Class 4 felony counts of aggravated driving while under the influence.
Meraz allegedly drove a Nissan Pathfinder on I-255 in Madison County while under the influence of alcohol on May 20, 2025, when her driving privileges had also been revoked or suspended for a prior DUI offense. The concentration of alcohol in her blood, breath, or other bodily substance was reportedly 0.08 or more at the time of this latest offense.
The Roxana Police Department presented the case against Meraz, who was also ordered released from custody pending trial.
All individuals charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
