Huntley man charged in chain attack is out on bond

A Huntley man accused of striking two teenage women with a dog chain was reacting to the victims throwing items at his car, his defense lawyer said Wednesday.

Speaking after a judge lowered bond for Oliver Rico over the objection of McHenry County prosecutors, attorney Brian Stevens said the June 4 incident appears to be part of an ongoing dispute between his client and the two teens.

"He was on his way home from work when they confronted him," Stevens said.

The 20-year-old faces two counts of aggravated battery and one count of criminal damage to property stemming from the incident along Haligus Road in Huntley.

He had been in custody at the McHenry County jail since his arrest two weeks earlier, but now is free after posting a reduced bond of $1,000 Wednesday.

The teens told police the incident started with Rico throwing an item at their vehicle, Assistant McHenry County State's Attorney Philip Hiscock said. After they responded by throwing a soda can at his car, the teens told police, Rico chased them until they stopped on Haligus and he got out of his car with a dog chain wrapped around his hand and struck the 17-year-old driver.

Rico then walked around the car and struck the 19-year-old passenger and the vehicle before leaving, Hiscock said.

"It was a premeditated attack," Hiscock said. "It certainly indicates that the defendant is a threat to the public."

Rico, who could face up to five years in prison if found guilty, is scheduled to return to court June 30.