Sentencing begins for man shot in confrontation with Wilmington police
By Janet Lundquist jlundquist@stmedianetwork.com January 9, 2013 3:24PM
Updated: February 11, 2013 7:25AM
A Plainfield man with a mental disability was off his medication when he pulled on a ski mask and aimed an air rifle at a Wilmington police officer last January, his mother said.
A sentencing hearing for Nathan W. Reeves, 22, who pleaded guilty to an intimidation charge in October, began Wednesday afternoon in Will County court.
The hearing was continued to Jan. 18 so additional witnesses can testify.
On Jan. 30, 2012, Reeves reportedly called police threatening to “wreak terror on this earth” before emerging from a Wilmington apartment in a ski mask and camouflage clothing while carrying an Airsoft rifle that resembled an automatic weapon.
Reeves was shot in the hand while aiming at responding officers, and was hospitalized briefly after the incident.
Reeves was charged with aggravated assault and physical intimidation. He was released from jail Feb. 22 and had been in treatment and living with family in Plainfield ever since, court records show.
In October prosecutors dropped the aggravated assault charge in exchange for Reeves’ guilty plea.
Reeves’ mother, Sally Reeves, told Judge Sarah Jones Wednesday that Reeves was not taking his medication and had been living with a former girlfriend in Wilmington at the time of the incident. Before that he had been living in her Plainfield home.
Since his arrest, Reeves has resumed his treatment and medical regimen and is doing well, Reeves said.
“He’s doing better than I’ve ever seen him before,” Reeves said.
