Batavia man charged with beating woman, 80, at knife point

A 49-year-old man with a long criminal record is accused of beating a woman and threating her with a knife in Batavia last weekend, according to court records.

John A. Cunningham, of the 700 block of Fabyan Parkway, Batavia, was being held on $75,000 bail, meaning he must post $7,500 to be free while his case is pending.

Cunningham faces felony charges of armed violence and aggravated battery to a victim older than 60, along with misdemeanor charges of domestic battery and interfering with domestic violence reporting, according to court records.

Cunningham was charged with threatening an 80-year-old woman with a knife on Sunday, striking her in the face and knocking a phone out of her hand when she tried to call police, court records show.

Batavia police representatives could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

According to court records, Cunningham’s criminal history in Kane County began in April 1989 when he was arrested on charges ofmisdemeanor trespassing in Batavia.

Between then and 2002, he was arrested at least eight times in the Kane County area for offenses such as battery, possession of a controlled substance, disorderly conduct, property damage, and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, records show.

Prior to Sunday, his most recent arrest in Kane County was in 2003 for felony criminal property damage for which he received 18 months probation and $1,002 in fines and fees, records show.

Cunningham is due in court Dec. 12. If convicted of the most severe charges, he faces up to seven years in prison.