Three adults and two juveniles were arrested over the weekend for what is being charged as mob action. 38-year old April Z. Gates, 19-year old Brady W. Gates and 19-year old Ashley M. Swain, all of Vandalia, were arrested on charges of mob action, a Class 4 felony, for an incident occurring on Friday, June 17 at a rural Vandalia home in which a male and a female victim were injured. Two juveniles were also arrested for mob action and battery. The charges of mob action are a Class 4 felony due to Illinois law that describes mob action as 2 or more people inflicting injury to a person or property of another.
April Gates is also facing a charge of aggravated battery for, according to court information, “knowingly causing great bodily harm” to a female victim, a Class 3 felony, as well as two charges of contributing to the criminal delinquency of a juvenile, each a Class 3 felony, for allegedly compelling the two juveniles in the commission of the mob action that resulted in battery to a male and female victim.
Brady Gates also faces a charge of aggravated battery, a Class 3 felony, for having alleged to knowingly causing great bodily harm to a female victim as well as a charge of domestic battery, a Class A misdemeanor, for allegedly making “physical contact of an insulting or provoking nature” of a family member.
Swain also faces a charge of aggravated battery, a Class 3 felony, for allegedly knowingly causing great bodily harm to a female victim.
All three made appearances in Fayette County Court on Tuesday. April Gates requested time to hire counsel and will make her first appearance with counsel on July 19 at 9am. Brady Gates also requested time to hire counsel and will make his first appearance with counsel on July 19 at 9am. In her appearance, Swain waived counsel and requested time to speak with the state. Pre-trial for Swain is set for July 19 at 11a.m.