Police: Caretaker punched, locked up 66-year-old Elgin woman

A caregiver admitted to punching a 66-year-old Elgin woman and locking her in a home last week, according to police.

Jackie L. Clingon, 54, of the 200 block of Hamilton Avenue, Elgin, faces charges of aggravated battery to a person older than 60 and abuse/neglect by a caretaker, both felonies, according to court records and police.

Elgin police on Friday began investigating after a neighbor saw injuries on the woman and were told Clingon admitting hitting the woman and giving her a black eye, according to a police report.

Authorities found the woman locked in a home on the 200 block of Hamilton - the front door lock needed a key for both sides and the back door was padlocked from the inside, the report said. The woman did not have access to a key and firefighters had to force their way into the home, according to a police report.

The victim had a large black eye, but did not remember how it happened, police said.

According to court records, the victim is related to Clingon. She had lived with the woman for 20 years, and that she punched the older woman after an argument over caring for her cats, according to police.

"Jackie stated she felt bad about it, but was at her wits end," the report said.

Clingon also told police she later installed locks to prevent the woman from leaving, and did this for the woman's own good because "she wanders and could get hurt," the report said.

Elgin Police Cmdr. Dan O'Shea said he did not have additional information about the altercation.

Clingon did not have any previous criminal arrests in Kane County, records show.

She is free on $500 bond, and appeared briefly in Kane County court on Wednesday, where she was appointed a public defender.

If convicted, she faces anywhere from probation to five years in prison.

Clingon is next due in court on Nov. 7.