COLLINSVILLE – Two men with criminal histories of domestic violence face new charges after separate alleged incidents of domestic battery.
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Cory A. Gehrs, 34, of O’Fallon, Ill., was charged on Nov. 12, 2025 with his second or subsequent offense of domestic battery, a Class 4 felony.
Gehrs allegedly intentionally caused bodily harm to a family or household member without legal justification on Nov. 11, 2025 by striking the victim in the face, causing bruising. Charging documents note he had previously been convicted of domestic battery in a prior case from 2018 filed in St. Clair County.
The Troy Police Department presented the latest domestic battery case against Gehrs, who currently remains in custody at the Madison County Jail.
In a separate case also filed on Nov. 12, 2025, 45-year-old Brian Pursell was also charged with a Class 4 felony for his second or subsequent offense of domestic battery.
On Nov. 9, 2025, Pursell allegedly knowingly and without legal justification struck a household or family member about the face and head, causing bruising and bodily harm to the victim. He had previously been convicted in 2016 of domestic battery in Madison County.
Pursell was granted pretrial release from custody with additional conditions in this latest case, which was presented by the Collinsville Police Department.
Among the conditions imposed on Pursell’s release are that he have no contact with and remain at least 500 feet away from the victim in this case. He has also been ordered not to enter the premises of the victim’s Belleville residence, not to possess any firearms while on pretrial release, and to surrender any firearms and Firearm Ownders Identification (FOID) card in his possession to the Collinsville Police Department.
All individuals charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
