Lee man denied bond reduction in case related to cocaine, weapons charges after threatening woman at hotel

A Lee man was denied reduction of his $250,000 bond this week as he faces cocaine and weapons charges after a threatening a woman at a local hotel.

Austin D. Cantrell, 24, of the 400 block of Erickson Gate in Lee, is charged with armed violence, a Class X felony, along with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, unlawful restraint, aggravated unlawful restraint, unlawful possession of a controlled substance, resisting a police officer, possession of a firearm without a FOID card, possession of ammunition without a FOID card and driving on a suspended license.

If convicted of the most serious crime, armed violence, Cantrell could face up to 30 years in jail and fines up to $25,000.

Cantrell’s public defender, Robert Carlson asked the court to grant a reduced bond.

“While the charges are serious, he is presumed innocent at this point, and his history does not indicate a history of violence,” Carlson said.

During his ruling Tuesday, DeKalb County Circuit Circuit Court Judge Phillip Montgomery said Cantrell also had outstanding warrants for his arrest on a domestic battery charge out of Winnebago County and another charge out of Ogle County.

“He has four prior failures to appear,” Montgomery said in the virtual bond hearing held via Zoom. “The defendant’s motion to reduce bond is denied.”

Cantrell’s charges came after an incident in which police say he threatened a woman at gunpoint while she attempted to leave the DeKalb Inn on Friday, March 19, and said he’d “bust her head” her if she left, records allege. Police also discovered 11.06 grams of a suspected cocaine in his car, and a loaded 22 caliber Heritage revolver, DeKalb police reports allege.

Austin was arrested by DeKalb police in the 900 block of Seaman Avenue after police received a tip from the victim’s friend who called around 8:40 p.m. to warn officers there was a woman being held against her will. Police said he also attempted to flee from them, according to DeKalb County court records.

It’s unclear why Cantrell allegedly threatened the woman with a gun and told her not to leave.

Using vehicle identification information provided by the woman, DeKalb police located Cantrell’s car and initiated a traffic stop, but Cantrell allegedly got out of his car and fled on foot while armed with what police later identified was a .22 caliber Heritage revolver.

Cantrell will be up for arraignment and another hearing April 14 at 2:30 p.m. in front of DeKalb County Circuit Court Judge Robbin Stuckert.

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