Feb. 29--A Downers Grove man accused of so violently shaking his infant daughter that she suffered brain damage has been indicted on six counts of aggravated battery to a child, DuPage County prosecutors said at a court appearance for the man Monday.
A grand jury has indicted Timothy Churchill, 20, of the 4200 block of Lindley Street, who was arrested in early February, Assistant State's Attorney Cathy DeLaMar said. Churchill formally pleaded not guilty before Judge John Kinsella at Monday's hearing. If convicted, Churchill faces up to 30 years in prison.
The judge advised Churchill of the possibility of being tried in absentia should Churchill post bond and fail to appear at future hearings. He has remained in the county jail since his arrest. Bail had been set at $1 million.
Police arrested Churchill about 10 days after he and the mother of their 3-month-old daughter brought the infant to the emergency room of Edward Hospital in Naperville. The mother lives in Naperville, authorities said.
Authorities say the child was then transported to Lurie Children's Hospital in Chicago, where doctors performed emergency brain surgery. Based on an investigation by Naperville police, prosecutors alleged that Churchill had violently shaken the child on at least five occasions, resulting in brain and eye injuries.
At the time of his arrest, Churchill was on court supervision for a vandalism incident involving two Naperville police cars. He was charged with defacing the cars with spray paint on Aug. 17, 2014, while the vehicles were parked downtown, according to records
In April 2015, he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of defacing public property and was ordered to pay fines and restitution, as well as perform 40 hours of community service, records said.
Clifford Ward is a freelance reporter.
