Two men have been sentenced to 60 days in jail and a woman was sentenced to public service after a 7-year-old boy was restrained with zip ties and punched in the head near McHenry.
The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office said they were contacted in August 2022 by a representative of Northwestern Medicine Hospital in McHenry for a report of child abuse involving a 7-year-old child.
The sheriff’s office responded to the hospital and launched an investigation.
As a result of the investigation, the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office charged Hal Eltherington, 65; Gregory Eltherington, 33; and Kristen Eltherington, 36.
All three reside in the 4800 block of Howard Street in unincorporated McHenry.
A grand jury indictment filed in McHenry County Circuit Court said Gregory Eltherington and Hal Eltherington placed their body weight upon the boy on August 14, 2022.
The three suspects then used zip ties on the 7-year-old’s wrists to restrain him, the indictment said. The child suffered abrasions on his wrists.
Kristen Eltherington “laid across” the boy’s body, the indictment said.
Hal Eltherington and Kristen Eltherington both struck the boy in the head with their fists, the indictment said.
A grand jury in November 2022 returned a combined 16-count indictment against the three Eltheringtons.
Kristen Eltherington was charged with two counts of aggravated battery to a child causing great bodily harm, unlawful restraint and two counts of domestic battery.
Hal Eltherington was charged with two counts of aggravated battery to a child causing great bodily harm, two counts of unlawful restraint and two counts of domestic battery.
Gregory Eltherington was charged with aggravated battery to a child causing great bodily harm, two counts of unlawful restraint and two counts of domestic battery.
Arrest warrants were issued and all three surrendered themselves to the McHenry County Jail.
All three were released from the McHenry County Jail after posting bond.
Attorney Scott Spaulding, who is representing Kristen Eltherington, said in court documents that the woman and Gregory Eltherington are siblings and Hal Eltherington is their father.
Spaulding said there is a video recording of the incident in the home, which contributed to the charges being filed.
The attorney said the three defendants filed affirmative defenses and their actions on the day of the incident were in response to the “violent actions” of the victim toward the family.
Spaulding said the child has a history of violent outbursts and uncontrollable fits.
The attorney said the child previously had to be restrained by police and paramedics. The child was removed from the home following the charges being filed and he attacked or was violent toward his foster mother, Spaulding said.
Court records show the Eltheringtons entered into negotiated plea deals with the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office this week.
Kristen Eltherington, Gregory Eltherington and Hal Eltherington all pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated battery to a child, a Class 3 felony, in exchange for the rest of their charges being dismissed.
McHenry County Judge Mark Gerhardt approved the pleas on Tuesday and sentenced Gregory Eltherington and Hal Eltherington to 60 days in jail and two years of probation.
Gerhardt sentenced Kristen Eltherington to 200 hours of public service and two years of probation.
The three were also ordered to undergo parenting classes and refrain from consuming alcohol or illegal drugs.