Joliet Inmate Romeo Nance Attacked, Plea Deal Struck

JOLIET, IL — One of the Joliet inmates charged in the recent attack of another Joliet inmate inside Will County's jail has had his aggravated battery charges dismissed under a plea bargain. The Nov. 12 criminal complaint accuses Martinez McCants, of Hazel Crest, and Treyvonne Rideout, of Joliet, of causing great bodily harm to 19-year-old Joliet inmate Romeo Nance, on Nov. 8.

Rideout and McCants used their feet to kick Nance in the head, and McCants used his fists to strike Nance in the head, prosecutors allege.

Rideout and McCants were each charged with two counts of aggravated battery. Then, last week, Will County prosecutors dropped their case against Rideout as part of a plea agreement. Rideout, who was in the Will County Jail since Joliet police arrested him in late September 2018, agreed to plea guilty to one of his 2018 charges, unlawful possession of a gun by a gang member. Rideout, 27, was sentenced to eight years at the Illinois Department of Corrections and given credit for the 418 days he spent in Will County's jail, court records state.

As for McCants, 26, of Hazel Crest, he remains in Will County detention without bail, jail logs show. Besides the two aggravated battery charges, he faces charges of domestic battery and criminal damage to government property. He also faces extradition from Indiana authorities who consider him a fugitive from justice.

As for the Will County Jail inmate who was attacked, Nance was the focus of a Joliet Patch crime article in late October headlined, "2 Cellphone Robbers Captured By Joliet Police: Complaint." Patch reported that Romeo Nance, 19, of the 100 block of Zurich Road, and Andre D. Tucker, 21, of the 2900 block of Warren Dorris Drive, were each charged with two counts of robbery, two counts of theft and one charge of unlawful possession of cannabis.

Nance was released from Will County's jail Nov. 19 after his bail was lowered from $50,000 to $25,000, jail logs show. He is being represented by attorney Jordan Kielian of Mahoney, Silverman and Cross law firm, court records reflect.