Kansas man convicted of stalking, choking woman in Elgin

A 45-year-old man was convicted this week of stalking his girlfriend in Elgin and choking her when he refused to return to Kansas with him, prosecutors said.

A Kane County jury deliberated two hours before convicting Blake C. Durbin, of Maize, Kansas, of aggravated domestic battery, and two counts each of aggravated battery in a public place, stalking and domestic battery, prosecutors said.

Judge Allen Anderson will sentence Durbin on Dec. 19; he faces between three to 14 years behind bars.

“This case is an example of a domestic abuser who sees his partner as a possession and not a person. My thanks to the jury for seeing the facts as they are. This guilty verdict marks a fitting end to Domestic Violence Awareness Month,” said Kane County State’s Attorney Joe McMahon.

The victim left Wichita in June and arrived in Elgin to stay with a friend who had promised to help. Durbin, who authorities said physically and psychologically abused the victim, had previously given her a cellphone and had turned on the GPS on it without her knowledge.

Durbin tracked her location and traveled to Elgin, trying for days to meet with the woman by stopping by the Community Crisis Center domestic violence shelter and calling her, prosecutors said.

On July 9, Durbin went to the home on the city’s southeast side where she was staying. Because kids were home at the time, the woman agreed to talk to Durbin outside in his car. Prosecutors said he became angry during the conversation, tried to strangle her and threatened to stab her. The woman’s friend saw what was happening and brought her back into the home. Durbin left.

The next day, Durbin continue to call, drove by the house several times and got out to yell. He was arrested after the woman called police.

The $1 million bail for Durbin, who had been held at the Kane County jail since his arrest, was revoked after his conviction.