Repeat Elgin domestic abuser pleads guilty, faces more prison

A 34-year-old Elgin man, who prosecutors say is the classic example of a serial domestic violence abuser, faces six to 30 years in prison when sentenced Nov. 29.

Quinzeric D. Span pleaded guilty to felony aggravated domestic battery this week and has a history of domestic abuse. He also called the victim numerous times from jail to keep her from testifying.

“Mr. Span has repeatedly shown all the signs of the classic domestic abuser, and he has done it with numerous victims,” said Kane County State’s Attorney Joe McMahon in a statement. “He beats them, tells them he loves them and then intimidates them to not testify against him. And then he does it all over again. That is the cycle of violence, and that is what the community must recognize if we are to end domestic abuse.”

Span, formerly of the 400 block of East Chicago Street, pleaded guilty this week to felony domestic battery charges stemming from an April 18, 2011, attack in Elgin in which he broke a woman’s orbital bone and perforated her eardrum, prosecutors said.

A warrant was issued for Span and he spent nearly a year on the run before authorities picked him up. He also faced felony charges from a 2010 attack.

While in jail on the 2011 charges, his first phone call was to the victim in which he acknowledged beating her and that he felt bad, prosecutors said.

In June 2012, Span was to go on trial for the 2010 offense, but the victim didn’t show up in court and a July 2012 trial date was set. Before the trial, prosecutors introduced evidence that Span contacted the victim several times by himself or through third parties, to coerce her not to testify.

But she did show up at trial, and Span pleaded guilty and began serving a three-year prison sentence.

A trial was scheduled this week on the charges from April 2011, and again the victim did not appear in court. Prosecutors presented evidence that Span had made repeated calls to the victim while he was in jail on Oct. 4 asking her to lie about her testimony, not cooperate with authorities and not show up for the trial.

Judge Timothy Sheldon issued a warrant for the victim to be held in contempt of court after her Monday absence. She showed up Tuesday, and Span immediately pleaded guilty.

He faces six to 30 years in prison because of his prior convictions for domestic abuse and drug charges.

According to court records, Span has at least three domestic battery arrests in Elgin between 2003 and 2005.