Protection order extended for Oregon woman accused of head-butting child

OREGON – An Oregon woman accused of head-butting a 6-year-old child will appear in Ogle County court again in March.

Martha Dunham, 36, is charged with one count of aggravated battery and two counts of domestic battery – all felony offenses.

In the aggravated battery charge, a Class 3 felony, court documents accuse Dunham of head-butting the child, causing pain and knowingly causing bodily harm. In the domestic battery charges, Class 4 felonies, court documents accuse Dunham of head-butting the child and pulling the child’s hair “without legal justification” and making “physical contact of an insulting or provoking nature.” Court records say the alleged incidents happened Dec. 13, 2024.

Dunham pleaded not guilty to the charges Dec. 23, 2024, and has demanded a jury trial.

On Jan. 7, Dunham, who had been held in the Ogle County Jail since her arrest, appeared in court for a hearing on an emergency order of protection that the girl’s mother filed after the alleged incident occurred.

The mother told Ogle County Judge Russell Crull that she wanted the order of protection extended.

“Do you want to proceed with this?” Crull asked the mother. “Yes,” she replied.

Crull asked Dunham if she would agree to a 2-year extension of the order.

“Can we do it until my criminal case is settled?” replied Dunham.

Crull agreed to extend the order of protection to 5 p.m., Jan. 28 and told Dunham he would not be presiding over any further hearings because of a conflict of interest. He said he was removing himself from the case because he had represented the girl’s mother when he was a private defense attorney.

Dunham appeared in court again Jan. 9 and was released from custody following a motion hearing in front of Judge Anthony Peska.

Prosectors had argued she should not be released because she previously had been convicted of domestic battery in 2006 in Winnebago County. Court records from Winnebago County show that Dunham pleaded guilty in 2006 to misdemeanor domestic battery and was sentenced to two years conditional discharge.

Her defense attorney, Matthew Schuck, argued Jan. 9 that Dunham could be released from custody with conditions set by the court.

Judge Peska agreed and released Dunham with the condition that she not have any contact with children younger than 18.

Dunham’s next court date is 1 p.m. March 18.