Attack Inside Woody's Bar: 7 Criminal Charges For This Bar Employee

JOLIET, IL — Will County Judge Donald DeWilkins has signed off on Tuesday's warrant authorizing the Joliet Police Department to go out and arrest 29-year-old Woody's Bar employee Emilee Plunge on seven criminal charges in connection with a violent attack on a woman inside the tavern back in April.

Joliet police have completed their four-month-long investigation and after reviewing the facts, the Will County State's Attorney's Office of Jim Glasgow filed seven criminal charges on Wednesday at the courthouse.

The charges for Plunge are aggravated battery and six counts of battery.

According to the complaint, Plunge is accused of striking the female victim about the face causing her eyes to be swollen on April 10. Plunge also struck the woman about the head, causing her forehead to be swollen, the complaint said, and kicked the woman about the head and used her foot to strike the victim about the head, prosecutors outlined.

Moreover, Plunge punched the woman about the face and pushed the victim about her body, court files show. The aggravated battery charge indicates that Plunge struck the woman about the face inside a public place of accommodation, Woody's Bar located at 1008 E Washington St., Joliet.

The warrant for Plunge's arrest indicates that she lives in the 100 block of SE Circle Drive and the Joliet police officer listed her place of employment as "Woody's Bar."

Unrelated, Plunge spent time in the Will County Jail in November 2023 following her arrest and subsequent conviction involving a Will County Sheriff's investigation. In that case, Plunge damaged a Will County Sheriff's squad car, including the interior handle on the passenger side door, on Nov. 12, 2023.

On May 17, 2024, Plunge worked out a plea bargain with the Will County State's Attorney Office, pleading guilty to one count of criminal damage to property.

She was given 24 months of conditional discharge and ordered to serve six days in the Will County Jail with credit for three days of time already served. She was ordered to refrain from alcohol and show proof of continued mental health treatment, court files show.