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Father accused of abuse

December 23, 2006
By ANDREA HEIN STAFF WRITER

JOLIET -- Authorities were unsure Friday whether a baby boy allegedly suffering from shaken baby syndrome would live to see his first Christmas.

Deputy Police Chief Pat Kerr said the four-month-old child remained in critical condition at Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago.

Police have arrested the boy's father, Ricardo Perez, 34, of 436 Meeker Ave., in connection with the child's injuries.

On Friday a Will County judge set Perez's bond at $2 million after the Will County state's attorney's office formally charged Perez with aggravated battery to a child, said Charles Pelkie, state's attorney spokesman.

The charge is a Class X felony meaning that Perez cannot receive probation if convicted of the crime and would serve the majority of a sentence ranging from six to 30 years.

Perez also is an illegal alien, Kerr confirmed.

On Tuesday night, the baby was found unresponsive in his Meeker Avenue home.

After emergency crews transported him to Children's Memorial Hospital, doctors discovered the boy's brain had swelled and was bleeding.

Joliet police detectives learned that the baby's biological mother had gone to work and left the baby with Perez, who is the boy's biological father but not married to the mother.

Perez allegedly was on the phone Tuesday with his wife in Mexico, who is a different woman than the baby's mother, and was trying to keep the child quiet.

Officials said they may alter the charges against Perez depending on what happens to the baby.

"We'll review the case as circumstances change," Pelkie said.

Children's Memorial failed to return calls for a second day regarding the child's condition.

View Andrea Hein's Web log at http://blogs.suburbanchicagonews.com/ahein/or contact her at (815) 729-6018 or via e-mail at ahein@scn1.com /a>