Two young women in southeastern Illinois are facing charges after they were accused of forcing women into the woods and physically attacking them in incidents that were legally defined as “mob actions.”
According to reports, on April 18, a woman was attacked by two 18-year-olds. The alleged victim, who had injuries all over her face and body, reported that the pair forced her into a wooded area and violently kicked her multiple times. The incident led the authorities to uncover additional similar alleged attacks that occurred in the same area, which they suspected were carried out by the same perpetrators.
Someone who told the police she was friends with the suspects reported that she, too, had been one of their victims. When she described the incident, she said she was in her car when she noticed individuals wearing ski masks approaching her. The suspects were reportedly accompanying the masked group, and when the woman saw them, she immediately drove away. She said she accepted their invitation to visit them the following day, and when she arrived, they allegedly attacked her in the woods after threatening her life.
Both women were arrested on April 23, and they are each facing a preliminary charge of felony mob action for one of the alleged attacks, but have not been charged for the additional accusations. The prosecution asked the judge to keep them in jail until their first court hearing, but it is currently unknown if either suspect is still behind bars.
It was reported that the authorities have spoken to several women who said they were also attacked similarly by the duo, and one of them filed for a restraining order. The police believe they will locate additional alleged victims.
If you or someone you love is suspected of an assault or battery offense, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.