Two charged in Whiteside County with beating man, pushing him out of moving vehicle

MORRISON – Two Whiteside County men – one from Sterling, the other from Rock Falls – are accused of beating and injuring a man Sunday and pushing him out of a moving vehicle.

Justin D. Simmer Jr., 20, of Rock Falls, and Cody Henson, 29, of Sterling, were formally charged Monday in Whiteside County with striking the man and then pushing him out of a vehicle.

Henson is charged with two counts of aggravated battery and one count of mob action, according to court documents. Appearing in court Monday while in the custody of the Whiteside County Jail, Henson pleaded not guilty to the charges. He was released from jail under pretrial release conditions and is next set to appear in court at 9 a.m. March 19 for a pretrial conference.

Simmer is charged with three counts of aggravated battery, one count of mob action and one count of armed violence, a Class X felony that carries a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison if convicted. The armed violence charge accuses him of striking the victim with a revolver and causing great bodily injury.

Simmer, who appeared in court in the custody of the Whiteside County Jail, will remain in custody, according to court records. His next court appearance is a preliminary hearing set for 1 p.m. Jan. 27.