Two charged after beating outside La Salle tavern

Two men have been charged in the Oct. 23 beating of two men outside Rephils in La Salle.

Bobby A. Cross, 27, of Peoria, was charged with three counts of aggravated battery, a Class 3 felony carrying 2-5 years in prison, and one count of mob action, a Class 4 felony carrying 1-3 years.

Jaquis Biederstedt, 20, of Morris, was charged with one count of aggravated battery and one count of mob action.

Cross and Biederstedt together struck one individual and Cross battered a second, police said.

Court dates are pending. Cross’ case is assigned to Judge Cynthia M. Raccuglia and Biederstedt’s is assigned to Chief Judge H. Chris Ryan Jr.

Cross was named as a person of interest in a since-closed investigation into a June 14 disappearance in Peru, following which a woman was recovered safely. According to reports at the time, a woman in her 20s (not a teenager, as first thought) was forced into a vehicle against her will. However, the La Salle County State’s Attorney’s Office said Friday the investigation was closed with no charges filed at this time.