Three charged with Sterling home invasion, beating woman

MORRISON – Multiple charges have been filed against a man and two women accused of breaking into a Sterling home and beating a woman inside the residence earlier this month.

Baylee J. Gipson, 25, of Rock Falls; Jaysiah A. Segobiano, 23, of Rock Falls; and Okita Lerma, 19, of Sterling, were formally charged Monday in Whiteside County with home invasion/causing injury, criminal trespass to property/persons present, mob action/force/more than two people; and battery with physical contact, according to court documents.

According to the criminal complaints, the three on Dec. 8 entered a home in the 1000 block of Avenue K in Sterling and punched and kicked a woman who lives there.

While the criminal complaints have been filed, the three have not appeared in front of a judge and court appearances were not set as of Thursday morning, according to court documents.

Court documents indicate Gipson was sentenced Dec. 1, 2023, to two years in prison after pleading guilty to manufacturing/delivery of 30-500 grams of cannabis.

The other two are currently facing charges in unrelated Whiteside County cases:

• Segobiano was charged Dec. 9 with driving without a license and driving an uninsured vehicle and is set to appear in court Jan. 21. In an unrelated case, Segobiano was charged Dec. 18 with unlawful possession of cannabis as a driver, driving without a license, operating an uninsured vehicle, improper lane usage and illegal transportation of alcohol. She is to appear in court Jan. 3 on those charges.
• Lerma is set to go to trial Feb. 11 for an aggravated battery/great bodily harm charge filed against her Sept. 12, 2023. A pretrial conference is set for Jan. 22.

Home invasion is a Class X felony. Criminal trespass and mob action are Class 4 felonies.