Gasper, Antrim Set for April Trials in Alleged Beating Case

An April 8 trial date has been set in the cases of two men accused of aggravated battery and a hate crime.

Kevin Gasper of Effingham and Justin Antrim of Teutopolis are accused of having a role in an incident at a bar in downtown Altamont in 2012 during which a man was beaten up reportedly because he is black.

Gasper and Antrim are next due in court for a pre-trial hearing on March 6.

David Rands of the State's Attorney's Appellate Prosecutor's Service has been appointed special prosecutor in the cases since State's Attorney Bryan Kibler was defense counsel for one of the defendants before he recently took office.