Ottawa woman gets probation, jail for injuring child

An Ottawa woman who injured a baby was sentenced Thursday to 30 months probation but also ordered to serve three months in jail.

Rachyl M. Newell, 26, had entered a blind plea in La Salle County Circuit Court to aggravated battery, a Class 3 felony carrying a possible prison sentence of two to five years but with alternate sentencing options including probation.

“I would just like to say that I’m very sorry for what I did,” Newell said when offered a chance to speak.

Prosecutors had previously disclosed the investigation was launched May 1 after the baby was found to have multiple bruises. When questioned, Newell said her dog had jumped on the child.

“She hurt a baby and lied. That causes the court concern.”

—  Chief Judge H. Chris Ryan Jr.

That story proved unfounded. A physician examined the child in Peoria and found what prosecutor Greg Sticka termed a “constellation of injuries in a non-mobile child” not consistent with Newell’s statements. When questioned by Ottawa police, Sticka said, Newell admitted she “violently shook” the baby in the bassinet and did it out of anger.

The full story was fleshed out more fully Thursday when the baby’s biological mother asked to read aloud a victim impact statement. The woman, whose name is withheld to shield the baby’s identity, said she agreed to place her newborn into foster care and to Newell, at that time a trusted friend.

But the mother said she soon spotted “red flags” in the baby’s care and “she continues to show no remorse.” (Newell did not look up at the mother during the open-court reading of the statement.)

Newell’s lawyer, Carol Stream attorney Michelle McClellan, asked for straight probation, noting Newell was remorseful, had no criminal history and has abided by all ongoing conditions such as mental health treatment.

McClellan said Newell acted under duress, insofar as she was overburdened at home and at work and at a time when she was struggling with bereavement.

“She ended up reaching out to her caseworker saying she couldn’t do it (foster care) anymore,” McClellan said. “She now understands she should not have agreed to have taken this child into her care.”

Sticka similarly recommended probation but said some jail time was warranted given there was harm (albeit not great bodily harm) to the baby and by Newell’s violation of a position of trust or supervision. He also said Newell was less than forthcoming when the child was found injured and brought to a hospital for examination.

“Originally, the story was the dog jumped on the child,” Sticka said. “When the medical people got involved, the constellation of injuries were not accounted for by this story.”

Chief Judge H. Chris Ryan Jr. agreed the fib was a sticking point that demanded a custodial sentence, though he halved Sticka’s request for 180 days.

“She hurt a baby and lied,” Ryan said. “That causes the court concern.”

Ryan gave Newell a one-week stay before she turns herself in to La Salle County Jail. She is ineligible for day-for-day good time. Newell also must register as a violent offender against youth.