advertisement

Marengo man pleads guilty to attacking former girlfriend in Round Lake Park

A Marengo man was sentenced to three years in prison after admitting to attacking a former girlfriend in her Round Lake Park house

Gary Reiher, 33, pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated domestic battery in front of Judge Victoria Rossetti on Thursday, said Rayne Galbraith of the Lake County public defender's office. As part of the deal, Reiher is required to serve 85 percent of the sentence before being eligible for parole, she said.

Reiher, of the 500 block of Eisenhower Street, was ordered to serve four years on parole after he completes his prison sentence, Galbraith said.

Charges of home invasion and aggravated restraint were dropped in exchange for the plea deal.

Reiher received credit for 210 days he spent in Lake County jail awaiting trial. He had been held in jail on $300,000 bail since his arrest.

Prosecutors said in bond court after his arrest that Reiher entered his 31-year-old ex-girlfriend's house on the 300 block of Highmoor Drive through a window about 4 a.m. Nov. 1.

Authorities said he dragged the woman through the house by her hair and her arm and poked her in the stomach with a knife. He was also accused by authorities of choking and beating her and hitting her 4-year-old child.

Reiher prevented the victim from calling police by smashing her cellphone and dropping it in a toilet, authorities said. She eventually was able to call 9-1-1 after finding another phone about 10:45 a.m., authorities said.

Reiher escaped through a back window when police arrived about 10:50 a.m. A police dog from the Lake County sheriff's office found Reiher hiding under a nearby deck.

The woman had cuts and scrapes on her arms and back and bruises on her chin.

Reiher had attacked his ex-girlfriend before the confrontation in November, court records show. He previously pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of battery and was sentenced to 12 months of probation and ordered to have no contact with the victim.

Authorities: Shoplifting tequila leads to arrest of man who eluded police

Round Lake Park police: Marengo man held ex-girlfriend, toddler captive

$300,000 bail set for man accused of holding ex and her son captive

Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.