$500,000 bail for Glen Ellyn man charged in standoff

A judge set bail Tuesday at $500,000 for a Glen Ellyn man who is charged with barricading himself inside his apartment and beating his wife in a cocaine-fueled rage.

Eric J. Rego, 35, was arrested about 9:45 a.m. Monday on charges of aggravated domestic battery, aggravated battery and drug possession after a SWAT team entered his home on the 400 block of Kenilworth Avenue.

At a bond hearing Tuesday, DuPage County Prosecutor Anne Therieau said Rego's 35-year-old wife went to police for help early Monday after Rego beat her and claimed to have attempted suicide by consuming a large amount of of cocaine. Therieau said the victim, who had “significant” injuries, told police her husband beat and threatened to kill her “weekly, when he came down from the high of cocaine.”

“She indicated the defendant wanted money for cocaine and, when she refused, he beat her ... and took her phone away,” Therieau said.

Therieau told Judge Michael Wolfe that Rego has an “atrocious” criminal background, which includes prior convictions in Rhode Island for domestic battery, tampering with a motor vehicle and resisting arrest. He also was wanted in Florida on charges of grand theft and forgery, she said.

Wolfe set Rego's bail at $500,000 in the DuPage case, and $150,000 in the Florida case. He would have to post $65,000 in total to be released.

Rego was ordered to have no contact with his wife should he bond out. His next court date is June 13 before Judge Kathryn Creswell.