Preliminary Hearing Set in Racine Beating Case

An 18-year-old Mount Pleasant man made his initial appearance in Racine County Circuit Court Wednesday for his role in a gang-related beating in Racine.

Deante M. Monette is charged with one count of battery, one count of disorderly conduct, one count of bail jumping and one count of felony bail jumping. If convicted, he faces up to nearly eight years in prison and $31,000 in fines.

According to the criminal complaint:

On Feb. 27, Monette and three other members of the 16th Street SMG gang jumped the victim after he got into an altercation with one of the gang members who is also the father of the victim’s sister’s baby in the 1800 block of Grange Avenue.

The victim tried to escape the assault, but was trapped against a fence by nearby Knapp Elementary School. After police arrived, he was taken to the hospital for treatment.

Monette was pulled over after the fight with other men in his car and said they were in the area to get a car that had been stolen from them and had watched a fight, but hadn’t participated in one.

A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for April 11.