DeKalb man charged in violent attack of woman, causing brain bleed: police

DeKALB – A DeKalb man is facing criminal charges after severely beating a woman during a sexual encounter, causing her brain to bleed, Sycamore police said.

Patrick Boorsma, 45, of the 800 block of Spiros Court in DeKalb was arrested Saturday and charged with aggravated domestic battery, a Class 2 felony. If convicted, Boorsma could face up to seven years in prison.

Boorsma appeared for a virtual bond hearing from the DeKalb County Jail on Monday in front of Judge Joseph Pedersen, who appointed a public defender to represent him.

According to DeKalb County court documents, Boorsma was at the home of a woman he knows Feb. 26 in the 500 block of South Peace Road in Sycamore. During a sexual encounter with the woman, Boorsma allegedly hit her in the head multiple times with an open hand so hard “she could not form words,” according to court records.

“[The woman] said her ears were ringing and she was unable to form words to tell Boorsma to stop,” according to court documents.

Boorsma also allegedly choked the woman and filmed her while choking her, according to court documents.

“After the encounter, Boorsma passed out, as did [the woman],” according to court documents. “[The woman] soon awoke and vomited twice in the bed. She said her ears were ringing, she had headaches and later experienced blacking out and numb feet.”

The woman told police her symptoms continued for three days before she was taken to Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital in DeKalb, where health professionals discovered bleeding in her brain. She was taken by ambulance to OSF St. Anthony Hospital in Rockford and released March 5, according to court documents.

As of March 10, police said the woman “still experiences ringing in her ears, headaches and is sensitive to light,” according to court documents.

DeKalb County Asst. State’s Attorney Daniel Regna told the judge this week that while the court considered Boorsma’s criminal history to be minor, the woman’s severe injuries in the February incident were cause for concern.

“And so, Judge, the nature of the injury is somewhat troubling to the state,” Regna said. Prosecutors asked for a bond which would require Boorsma to be under electronic monitoring at home if released.

“And, certainly, he would be allowed to work,” Regna said. “This would just be an added layer of protection of the victim, given the severity [of the injuries].”

DeKalb County Public Defender Tom McCulloch argued that Boorsma might have trouble paying for such surveillance if released, where he would reside away from the victim’s address.

“So I don’t know if electronic home monitoring is affordable to him,” McCulloch said.

Pedersen ordered a $5,000 recognizance bond for Boorsma, electronic home monitoring and prohibited Boorsma to have contact with the woman.

Boorsma is due back in court at 2 p.m. April 14.