November 17, 5:13 PMChicago Crime ExaminerDeborah O’Malley
A Naperville woman accused of deliberately running her car into a teenage bicyclist during a fit of road rage has applied to have her case handled by DuPage County’s Mental Illness Court Alternative Program (MICAP).
Mary Ann Rehm, of the 500 block of East Bauer Road, was charged with aggravated battery with a weapon (her car) and aggravated battery in a public place.
On July 26, 2009, Rehm allegedly rammed 17-year-old Jereme Peterson with her car during rush hour traffic in downtown Naperville. Peterson told police he was riding his bike north on Washington and Rehm beeped at him to get out of the way. When he didn’t, he told police she deliberately struck him.
The teen jumped off the bike and was not seriously injured but his expensive Sputnik BMX bicycle was trashed. It got stuck under the car and remained there while Rehm allegedly drove nearly two miles to her home.
In court today, Rehm filed an application to have her case handled by MICAP, according to DuPage County State’s Attorney spokesman Paul Darrah. Darrah said a decision on whether to accept the case into the MICAP program will be made January 8, 2010.
MICAP cases require defendants to undergo a treatment program to work through whatever mental health issues contributed to a defendant’s criminal behavior. If the defendant completes the program satisfactorily, charges may be reduced or dropped.
Rehm is free on $100,000 bond.
