A 36-year-old Illinois woman, Martha Dunham, was released from Ogle County Jail on January 9 after being arrested for allegedly assaulting a 6-year-old child in December.
As a condition of her release, a judge ordered her to stay away from anyone under 18. .. Continue reading here ▶
Dunham was arrested on December 13 and charged with aggravated battery of a child under 13 and domestic battery. According to court documents, she was accused of headbutting the child and pulling their hair.
The connection between Dunham and the child, or the child’s mother, has not been disclosed. However, the child’s mother filed a protective order against Dunham, describing the alleged assaults as “insulting or provoking physical contact.”
Dunham pleaded not guilty on December 23. During a January 7 hearing, the child’s mother requested a two-year extension of the protective order.
Dunham, however, suggested the order remain in place only until her criminal case is resolved. Judge Russell Crull extended the order until January 28 but recused himself due to a prior professional relationship with the child’s mother.
At a January 9 hearing with Judge Anthony Peska, prosecutors argued that Dunham should stay in jail because of her history of domestic violence charges dating back to 2006. Despite this, Judge Peska released her under the condition that she avoid all children under 18.
Dunham’s next hearing on the protective order is scheduled for January 28, and her criminal case will be heard on March 18.
