Police: Son beat his wealthy lawyer father with a broomstick and fists

The son of a wealthy 82-year-old Granite City lawyer was charged with beating his father with a broom handle and his fists and choking him last month.

Phillip L. Callis Jr., 47, remains jailed at Madison County under charges of aggravated battery and two counts of aggravated domestic battery.

“Our officers were called to the house and the evidence showed that Phillip Callis had battered his father,” said Granite City Police Chief Rich Miller. “He was taken into custody and his father was rendered medical treatment.”

The charges state Phillip Callis hit Lance Callis “about the body with his hands and a broom handle” then attempted to strangle his father on Feb 22.

The Granite City Police Department investigated the case. Madison County State’s Attorney Thomas Gibbons charged Callis with three felonies the next day. His bail was set at $250,000.

As part of the condition of his future release, Gibbons asked a judge to impose additional conditions. As part of this request, Gibbons stated that Phillip Callis threatened and abused his father on previous occasions and continues to pose a threat. They also stated that Phillip Callis has a history of abusing drugs and alcohol and has exhibited obsessive and controlling behaviors toward his father, including the isolation of his father. Prosecutors asked that Phillip Callis be barred from contact with his father as a condition of his release.

Phillip Callis has three felony drug charges since 2000. Two were dismissed. Callis received probation on a 2000 possession of a controlled substance charge. He later violated his probation and was sentenced to a year in prison.

Joan Callis, Phillip Callis’ mother asked for, and received a court order to keep her son away from her and Lance Callis in 2004, 2007, 2008 and 2012. In the 2007 application for an order of protection, Joan Callis stated beginning in 2000 and continuing until 2007, Phillip Callis stole jewelry, cars and electronics from the family home in the 3000 block of Harvard in Granite City. In February 2005, she alleged Phillip Callis broke into the home and used intimidation to get money from family members. His mother also alleged the Phillip Callis used drugs inside the family home.

In 2012, Joan Callis again asked a court for an order keeping her son away. In that petition, she alleged her son was not taking his proper medication and was drinking alcohol and came to the house “acting belligerent and yelling.” Phillip became verbally abusive and started making threats until money was given to him. She wrote her son had a history of breaking into the home, harassing and threatening people for money for his “abusive habits.”

Phillip Callis was charged with aggravated battery in 2006. That charge alleged that Callis took a hammer and struck Violet L. Shumate on the left arm and left index finger. That case was dismissed.

Callis, a former Metro East Sanitation District worker, tried his hand at concert production in 2015. Callis founded P. Callis Promotions in 2013. Callis produced the Hard Rock Invasion at Jefferson Barracks Memorial with headliners Queensryche, Tom Keifer of Cinderella, Great White as well as a couple of local acts. He also produced a sold-out show for Molly Hatchet at the Alfresco Performing Art Center in Granite City.

Lance Callis has recovered from his injuries, Miller said, and is back at work.

Lance Callis is the father of former Madison County Chief Judge and Congressional candidate Ann Callis.

This story was originally published March 28, 2016 at 3:42 PM with the headline "Police: Son beat his wealthy lawyer father with a broomstick and fists."