A father was arrested after prosecutors say his juvenile son reported that he was starved, beaten and abused over the span of more than a decade in Vernon Hills.
Vikas Jaiswal, 48, of Vernon Hills, was charged with two counts of domestic battery, both misdemeanors.
A juvenile, who attends high school, reported to his teacher that his father, Jaiswal, was physically abusing him on a daily basis, according to Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Patrick Starnes.
The teacher contacted the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), which notified the Vernon Hills Police Department.
The victim reported that Jaiswal beats, punches and strikes him with a ruler on a regular basis, Starnes said.
One of the recent occurrences involved Jaiswal allegedly beating the child with a ruler for not meeting school expectations.
The victim, who is a teenager, reported that he is only being allowed to eat once a day and go to the bathroom only twice a day.
The child is afraid to go to the bathroom more than he is allowed to, even when he is at school and not around his father, Starnes said.
The teacher reported the child’s nutrition is affecting his well-being.
The boy’s hair is falling out and he is becoming emaciated, Starnes said.
DCFS workers observed ruler marks on the child’s skin, some of which were already scarring.
The victim told authorities that the abuse has been going on for over 12 years.
Jaiswal would hit the victim in the face when he was younger than 10 years old, Starnes said, adding that the victim said he is “getting used to it.”
Jaiswal struck the child in the face multiple times recently and hit him on the body, Starnes said. Prior to that, the father also allegedly punched the child with a closed fist.
The victim was transported to the police station and later transferred to DCFS custody.
Lake County Judge Bolling Haxall ordered Jaiswal held on a $100,000 bond.
Jaiswal was released from the Lake County Jail after posting 10% of his bond, jail records show.