Maple Park man convicted of aggravated battery of a child

SYCAMORE – A 43-year-old Maple Park man faces an Oct. 24 sentencing hearing after a judge convicted him of aggravated battery of a child in his care.

DeKalb County Presiding Judge Robbin Stuckert convicted Jay Trout, of the 300 block of West Elian Court, of aggravated battery, which typically is punishable with probation or up to seven years in prison, court records show.

Stuckert also acquitted him of a more serious charge of aggravated battery stemming from the same incident on Oct. 21, 2011. Stuckert found that the injuries the child suffered weren't severe enough to fit the more serious charge, which is punishable with between six and 30 years in prison.

Trout was convicted of hitting a then 12-year-old boy on the face and ear, causing the boy to suffer a perforated ear drum, court records show. According to a petition for an order of protection filed by the boy's mother, the boy told her Trout hit him in the head a couple of times for not cleaning his room.

Charges of harassing a witness, violating an order of protection and attempting to communicate with a witness remain pending against Trout.

In the middle of his trial in the aggravated battery case this year, Trout allegedly left a voicemail for a prosecution witness, court records show. He told her to call him back so they could reach an agreement on pending court matters and suggested he had an offer that she probably wanted, court records show.

That case is due in court Wednesday for a status hearing.