O’Fallon man behind bars for allegedly beating up Shiloh ‘on-off again’ girlfriend

An O’Fallon man is sitting behind bars for allegedly beating up his Shiloh ‘on-off again’ girlfriend, according to Shiloh Police and charges filed by St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s office.

Cory A. Gehrs, 24, is in custody at St. Clair County Jail for another alleged domestic battery charge for an incident that occurred last Sunday.

“We located Gehrs with the assistance of St. Clair County Probation (staff) without causing any problems—he cooperated,” Shiloh Police Detective George Fender said.

According to St. Clair County Circuit Clerk records, Gehrs “knowingly made physical contact of an insulting or provoking nature with a household member.”

On Sunday, July 12, the Shiloh Police responded to Belleville Memorial Hospital in reference to a female victim being treated for injuries as a result of a domestic battery that occurred earlier in the evening at a residence within the 200 block of Nicholas Drive in Shiloh.

The 24-year-old female victim, whose identity will remain protected, was released from the hospital following treatment Sunday night, Fender noted.

Fender said two minor male children were present during the incident, but sustained no injuries.

Gehrs was confirmed by Fender as being the biological father.

“We are mandated to report incidents of this kind to the Department of Children & Family Services, and we have made contact with DCFS about this specific case,” Fender said. “The children remain in (the victim’s) custody.”

Alleged abusive behavior included Gehrs grabbing the female victim, pushing her forcefully to the ground while striking her in the head and then choking her around the neck.

According to Fender, Gehrs didn’t stop there.

He also allegedly threw a cooler at her body causing her to fall to the ground.

“...He dragged (the victim) by the feet and prevented her from moving,” court documents state.

The results of the investigation were submitted to the St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s Office for review.

Gehrs was charged Wednesday, July 15, after St. Clair County Assistant State’s Attorney Areda Johnson issued a five count warrant for aggravated domestic battery, a class 3 felony, and for domestic battery, subsequent offense, all class 4 felonies.

The warrant was reviewed by St. Clair County Judge Jan Fiss and he set Gehrs’s bond at $30,000.

Gehrs is currently in custody at the St. Clair County Jail for want of bond.

Assigned a public defender, Gehrs is expected to make a court appearance at 1 p.m., Friday, July 24, in courtroom 500 for a preliminary felony hearing.

No stranger to crime, Gehrs’ two-page court case history includes many pending cases dating all the way back to December 12, 2013, for domestic battery in O’Fallon. Other cases include use of a deadly weapon in O’Fallon in October 2013, as well as, drug and paraphernalia charges out of Fairview Heights in January 2014 that have been dismissed.

“I can’t comment on any other charges, but our department has dealt with (Gehrs) before for traffic violations, I believe,” Fender explained. “All of his non-domestic related charges have no bearing on this case however.”

Other charges include disorderly conduct in October 2014 in Belleville and many speeding and traffic violations which are either pending or have been dismissed with court supervision. First charges listed in St. Clair County were made in 2007 for speeding.

“The reason all of those previous charges will not be finalized until he’s completed his probationary period, which is dependant on the judge assigned to the case. All I know is that he was still on active probation when he was charged for this case.”

Fines in the amount of $1,312 are owed by Gehrs, according to court records.

This story was originally published July 16, 2015 at 1:28 PM with the headline "O’Fallon man behind bars for allegedly beating up Shiloh ‘on-off again’ girlfriend."