COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE — A "mystical healer" was beaten and robbed of four gold rings, a necklace with a medallion and a watch while apparently making a house call, authorities said.
The man, who said he was a spiritual healer, was visiting a home in the 7100 block of South Springfield Avenue on Jan. 18, prosecutors said. He went down into a basement bedroom and was attacked by a group of at least three people, including Jesus Villa, a 29-year-old man from Aurora, prosecutors said.
They allegedly started punching the healer and stole his jewelry, prosecutors said, adding that Villa also pointed a gun at him.
The healer was able to escape when the mother of one of the attackers came into the room, prosecutors alleged.
Villa turned himself in to police on Monday when he learned he was wanted in connection with the alleged crime — even though his attorney said it never happened.
"I don't know if this passes the smell test," Villa's attorney said during a brief Wednesday hearing, adding that the accusations made by the "mystical healer" were not credible.
A judge ordered Villa held on $50,000 bond.
