Mom Faces Battery Charges For Beating Son With Belt: Authorities

By Sam Borcia, Lake & McHenry County Scanner

Prosecutors say a Round Lake Beach woman hit her son in the face and buttocks with a belt numerous times, leaving the child with visible injuries.

Jennifer C. Simpson, 28, of Round Lake Beach, was charged with one count of aggravated battery to a child, a Class 3 felony, and one count of domestic battery physical contact. Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Kelse Banks said the victim is Simpson’s 9-year-old son.

Simpson received a call from the boy’s school that he had a “breakdown” and Simpson went to pick up the child from the school, Banks said. There was an argument about the child’s behavior and Simpson allegedly grabbed a leather belt.

Simpson hit the child eight or nine times with the belt, Banks said during a Tuesday bond hearing. The child was hit in the buttocks, face and arm.

The victim had a visible mark on his cheek that was “L” shaped and slightly swollen, Banks said. He also had slight redness on his forearm.

Officers with the Round Lake Beach Police Department arrested the woman on Monday.

Lake County Judge James Simonian ordered Simpson held on a $5,000 bond.

Simonian also ordered the woman to have no contact with her son as a condition of bond.

Simpson was transported to the Lake County Jail on Tuesday and released from custody after posting 10% of her bond.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for September 6.

Lake and McHenry County Scanner is a local breaking news website covering issues that matter such as shootings, stabbings, house fires, kidnappings, car accidents, and more around Lake County and McHenry County.