Man charged in battery of metro-east state’s attorney had faced him in court
A 45-year-old man charged with battery against Monroe County State’s Attorney Ryan Webb had previously been charged in cases prosecuted by Webb.
Wesley Allen Corey, of Waterloo, is charged with aggravated battery in a public place. He is accused of striking Webb on the head with his hand while the two were inside Hopskeller Brewing Company, 116 E. Third St., at about 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 19 in downtown Waterloo, according to Waterloo Police Chief Dane Luke.
Webb did not sustain a serious injury, Luke said.
Luke said he did not have information about what led to the incident between Corey and Webb.
Webb could not be reached for comment.
Because Webb typically prosecutes cases on behalf of crime victims in Monroe County, the felony case will be handled by Randolph County State’s Attorney Christopher Koeneman, who was appointed special prosecutor in Monroe County
“Unfortunately, violence against public officials and public figures in this country seems to be escalating,” Koeneman said in a statement. “I will be doing everything I can to see to it that Corey receives the harshest punishment possible and thereby sending a message that this type of brazen behavior will not be tolerated.”
Corey remained in the Monroe County Jail on Wednesday. He has a preliminary hearing scheduled for Dec. 3.
Arthur W. Morris, the Monroe County public defender, has been appointed to represent Corey.
Morris could not be reached for comment.
Previous charges in Monroe County
Corey previously was charged with offenses that Webb prosecuted, according to Monroe County court records.
In one case, Corey was charged in early July with pedestrian under the influence of drugs or alcohol and resisting a police officer in Waterloo. Monroe County court records show this case is pending. Webb had been listed as prosecutor, but now Koeneman will handle the case.
In mid-July, Corey faced a petition for revocation of his 30-month probation sentence on a 2024 conviction for criminal trespass to a residence. Webb also had been listed as prosecutor in this case. On Oct. 8, both Webb and Corey were present in the courtroom, but Corey left before he was arraigned. At an arraignment on Nov. 4, Corey was released, according to court records.
However, Corey’s pretrial release on these two cases was revoked Nov. 20 and he was ordered held in the county jail. He has a status hearing on those cases on Dec. 18; Koeneman will be the prosecutor instead of Webb.
