Grand jury indicts two arrested in rural Streator manhunt

Two Streator residents were indicted Tuesday on charges stemming from a burglary and police chase that ended in a manhunt Sept. 28 in rural Streator.

A La Salle County grand jury convened and indicted 29-year-old Leroy E. Persinger on felony counts of theft, attempted burglary, burglary (two counts) and unlawful possession of a stolen motor vehicle. Some of the counts stem from incidents at a pair of Streator car washes in August and mid-September, others from the Sept. 28 traffic stop that resulted in his arrest and the seizure of the stolen car.

Persinger was previously advised he is eligible for extended sentencing up to 14 years later.

A woman apprehended in the pursuit also was indicted for burglary and a new count of retail theft.

Nancy M. Newell, 51, of Streator, faces one count of burglary (3-7 years) filed after she admitted helping Persinger in a Streator burglary between Sept. 19 and Sept. 21.

The grand jury did not, however, return a firearm charge even though Ottawa police seized from the car impounded after the pursuit. In a press release, the sheriff’s office reported Persinger fought with the arresting deputy and repeatedly told Newell to "get him." Newell, the release stated, “began to approach the deputy and reached her hand into her waistband.” To date, however, there has been no indication the sheriff’s deputy saw a firearm or that Newell brandished one.

Also indicted Tuesday, were Thomas Leek, 46, of Peru (aggravated battery); Wesley Thompson, 40, of Peru (driving while suspended); Nathaniel Solis, 35, of Aurora (two counts of criminal sexual assault; aggravated criminal sexual abuse); Terrence Mading, 48, of Aurora (driving while revoked); Jontomas Collis, 34, of Colona (two counts of deceptive practice); Christopher Pumo, 35, of Ottawa (two counts of aggravated DUI); Antonia Johnson, 22, of Chicago (unlawful possession of a controlled substance); Daniel Margis, 36, of Oglesby (three counts of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance); Timothy Stanford, 38, of Chicago (unlawful delivery of methamphetamine; unlawful delivery of a controlled substance); Marina Johnson, 28, of La Salle (unlawful delivery of a controlled substance); Jennifer Smrekar, 42, of Spring Valley (driving while suspended); Megan Hasse, 31, of Sandwich (unlawful possession of a controlled substance); Brittany Tidaback, 29, of Spring Valley (unlawful possession of a controlled substance); Kenneth Teausant, 37, of Peru (two counts of criminal damage to government-supported property); Melanie Zeitler, 39, of La Salle (retail theft).