Previously Deported Joliet Felon 'Stated He Just Got Out Of Prison And Killed 3 People' Prosecutors

JOLIET, IL — Robert Michael Cordova, a 49-year-old former Joliet resident who ended up in Florida, is now back in the Will County Jail following a bloody and vicious attack upon another customer inside Joliet's Bobby's Tap on Plainfield Road, according to police.

The Will County State's Attorney's Office of Jim Glasgow has charged Cordova with two counts of aggravated battery and two counts of aggravated assault. The prosecutor's office had a successful hearing last week at the Will County Courthouse arguing for Cordova to remain in the Will County Jail indefinitely under the SAFE-T-Act.

"Defendant is a multi-time felon and sex offender. After starting his criminal career and sexually assaulting a teenager in Will County in the 90s, he moved to Florida where he continued to steal cars, batter senior citizens, and assault people with deadly weapons," Will County's prosecutors outlined in their petition filing.

Cordova's most recent conviction was in 2022 when he received a sentence of five years in the Florida Department of Corrections.

"Now he is back in Will County and again assaulting people with a deadly weapon and causing great bodily harm by biting into the nose of (his Bobby's Tap victim) after bragging that he just got out of prison for killing people," the prosecutors wrote. "LEADS also shows the defendant as a previously deported felon, and Immigrations, Customs, and Enforcement is likely to pick him up if he is released, causing him to escape prosecution for this crime and leaving the victims unwhole.

"With his criminal history, his actions here, and his immigration status, the defendant has a significant risk of flight along with being a danger to the named victims and society at large."

Wild Night Inside Bobby's Tap Revealed By Prosecutors

The Will County State's Attorney's filing outlines the following events led to Cordova's felony arrest by Joliet police during the middle of the night:

At 1:26 a.m. on July 18, Officer Taller was dispatched to Bobby's Tap at 1107 Plainfield Road with reports that a victim had his nose bitten off. The victim had a large amount of blood on his hands, pants and nose, with a deep bleeding cut from a bite on the left side of his nose.

The victim told Joliet police "he was at the bar speaking to Defendant/Robert Cordova. Defendant stated he had killed 3 people and just got out of prison, and subsequently bit (the Bobby's Tap patron) in the nose. (Victim) punched defendant in self-defense and believed his nose was completely off," prosecutors revealed.

The victim was taken to St. Joe's hospital to receive treatment for his injuries. One eyewitness at Bobby's Tap noted that he saw the "bartender ... holding onto Cordova to stop him. Once he let go, defendant broke a bottle and began pointing it threateningly at (the bartender) and owner of the bar ... and was close enough to cut them, putting them both in reasonable apprehension of imminent battery," court files show.

Prosecutors said another eyewitness at Bobby's Tap explained to Joliet police how he saw Cordova approach the victim, grab him and pull him close, then punch him at least once, then break a bottle and hold it in a threatening manner.

That particular witness "also noted that defendant offered him cocaine prior to the incident and he refused. Thomas observed defendant get in (the victim's) face and then bite him, and he intervened to break it up. A line up with defendant was conducted and (the bartender) confirmed they had the right guy and defendant was placed under arrest," court documents show.

Cordova remained violent even during his Joliet police car ride back to the downtown station for his booking, prosecutors said.

"During transport, defendant kicked and slammed his head causing a minor injury to his nose," court files reflect.

ICE agents have previously deported Joliet criminal

Will County prosecutors indicated in last week's SAFE-T-ACT detention filing that Cordova was "a previously deported felon and Immigrations, Customs and Enforcement is likely to pick him up if he is released, causing him to escape prosecution for this crime and leaving the victims unwhole. With his criminal history, his actions here, and his immigration status, the defendant has a significant risk of flight along with being a danger to the named victims and society at large."

Will County's judicial system agreed. They have ordered Cordova to remain in his cell at the Will County Jail indefinitely pursuant to our SAFE-T-Act.

In addition, the Will County State's Attorney's Office shared the following criminal history for Cordova as part of its effort to make sure Cordova never sees the light of day outside of his Will County Jail cell, as he awaits his Joliet criminal trial.