A Round Lake man has been released from custody after he was arrested for allegedly hitting a toddler in the face, causing serious injuries in Round Lake.
Jose D. Vizcaino, 29, of Round Lake, was charged with two counts of domestic battery, a Class A misdemeanor.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Mary Daly said Vizcaino’s two-year-old child would not fall asleep around 12:30 a.m. on January 13.
His wife, who is pregnant, left the room to sleep away from the baby.
Daly said Vizcaino went into the bedroom where the toddler was, at which point the wife heard a clapping sound and Vizcaino yelling at the child.
The woman noticed the next morning that the child had a black eye and a scratch around his eye, Daly said.
The child had dried blood around his nose and mouth area. A pillow also had blood on it.
Daly said the wife confronted Vizcaino, who reportedly said he was hit as a child so he could hit his children too.
Vizcaino threatened to hit the child again if he did not listen, Daly said. Vizcaino then allegedly pushed his pregnant wife.
Vizcaino told police that he struck the toddler with a pillow and caused the injuries to the child, Daly said.
The child’s injuries were consistent with being hit or slapped by a person’s hand.
Daly said Vizcaino’s wife told officers that he has struck her several times in the past and has hit the family’s cat.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain Vizcaino, arguing he is a threat to his family’s safety and said that the child suffered “severe” injuries.
Lake County Judge Theodore Potkonjak earlier this month granted the petition and remanded Vizcaino to the Lake County Jail pending trial.
Under the Illinois SAFE-T Act, judges are required during each court hearing to revisit the decision of whether a defendant will remain detained or not.
During an arraignment hearing on Friday, a judge ordered Vizcaino released from the jail pending trial with pre-trial conditions.
Vizcaino is scheduled to appear in court again on Wednesday.