One of the two men arrested in connection with the riots on the SIUC campus three weeks ago will go to trail, a judge ruled Monday.

Peter Allen, a freshman from Oak Park studying political science, and his lawyer, Neil Holley, waived his preliminary hearing at the Jackson County Jail Monday and are scheduled for pre-trial 8:30 a.m. on Dec. 27.

Holley would not comment as to why his client waived the hearing.

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Shortly after the Chicago White Sox clinched their first World Series title in 88 years on Oct. 27, chaos broke out on campus. A group between 300 to 400 students gathered at Pulliam Hall and marched to McAndrew Stadium, knocking down light poles and a soda machine along the way. After arriving at the football stadium, the mob tried to tear down the goal posts, but SIUC Police prevented them.

A group of around 100 students split off and traveled to Charlotte West Stadium, where two students tried to gain access into the facility. One student was pulled down, sprayed with Mace and arrested. The other was never caught.

Allen was arrested and charged with two counts of criminal damage to government property, a Class 3 felony and Class 4 felony. He was also charged with criminal damage to property, a Class 3 misdemeanor. According to the case file, Allen destroyed two light poles on campus and damaged other SIUC property before he was arrested at 1:30 a.m. Oct. 27.

A Class 3 felony can carry a potential sentence of two to five years in prison, and a Class 4 felony ranges from one to three years in prison.

He was transported to Jackson County Jail in Murphysboro where he was released on a $3000 bond. Allen’s trial is scheduled for Jan. 17 at 8:15 a.m.

The other man arrested, Howard Swacker, an undecided freshman from Glenwood, was arrested and charged with mob action and criminal damage to property.

Swacker’s first appearance is scheduled for Wednesday at 9 a.m. at the Jackson County Courthouse.

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Reporter Matthew McConkey can be reached at [email protected]