‘Sanity’ exam ordered for son of St. Clair County Board member accused in stabbing
The son of St. Clair County Board member Bob Trentman will undergo a mental health examination before facing charges alleging he stabbed his father and then charged at three sheriff’s deputies with a pellet gun before being shot by a deputy last month.
Clinton J. Trentman, 30, will be examined by Dr. Daniel Cuneo, a Belleville forensic psychologist who evaluates the mental fitness of defendants for courts throughout the metro-east, according to an order filed Tuesday by St. Clair County Associate Judge Sara L. Rice.
“Dr. Cuneo appointed to evaluate defendant as to sanity,” the court order states. “Report to be provided to defense counsel only.”
Chet Kelly, a Belleville attorney representing Clinton Trentman, declined to comment Tuesday after Trentman’s brief appearance before Rice.
Clinton Trentman waived his right to a detention hearing and remained in the St. Clair County Jail on Wednesday.
After he was shot Jan. 11, Clinton Trentman was taken to a hospital, according to a news release from Illinois State Police. He was booked into the county jail on Monday.
Clinton Trentman is charged with two counts of aggravated domestic battery, one count of aggravated battery and three counts of aggravated assault of a police officer. All of the charges are felonies.
Bob Trentman confirmed last month that he was the victim in this case, but declined to discuss the injuries sustained by either himself or his son.
Bob Trentman, a Democrat, represents County Board District 14, which covers portions of Swansea and Shiloh. He has served on the board since 2012 and is also the St. Clair Township highway commissioner.
St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department deputies were called at 7:13 a.m. Jan. 11 to the 2600 block of Old Collinsville Road in unincorporated Belleville for a report that a man had “attacked relatives at the home with a knife,” according to a news release from the department.
“When deputies arrived at the area, they were confronted by the armed suspect, and a deputy fired his weapon, striking the suspect.”
Charging documents allege Clinton Trentman stabbed his father in the hand, arm and face. The charges also allege he “charged” at three deputies while armed “with a weapon appearing to be a firearm, a pellet gun.”
The documents do not specify which deputy shot Clinton Trentman.
Sheriff Rick Watson requested Illinois State Police investigate the case because a deputy shot a suspect.
A spokesperson for Illinois State Police said the investigation remained ongoing this week.
Results of the investigation will be turned over to the St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s Office for review, according to an Illinois State Police news release last month.
This story was originally published February 4, 2026 at 2:16 PM.
