Man pleads not guilty to bludgeoning mom day before Mother's Day
A Buffalo Grove man pleaded not guilty to charges he bludgeoned his 72-year-old mother the afternoon before Mother's Day.
Mitchell Bender, 31, faces up to five years in prison if found guilty on three counts of aggravated battery to a person over the age of 60, Lake County Judge Christopher Stride said Thursday. Bender also faces a year in jail if he's found guilty on two counts of misdemeanor domestic battery, Stride said. Both charges are probationable.
Bender remains free from Lake County jail after posting the required 10 percent of his $25,000 bail.
The victim was working on a computer in her house May 9, when Bender grabbed her from behind, threw her on the couch, slapped her, struck her on the face and body and pulled her hair, authorities said.
After the attack ended, Bender threatened to kill the victim if she phoned police, authorities said. The victim went to a neighbor's house and called for help.
Police said the woman had visible injuries, including a bruise on her left eye and cuts and scratches on her chest and shoulder.
Bender fled the house before police arrived, officials said. Buffalo Grove police searched for Bender but failed to find him, officials said.
Buffalo Grove police contacted Wauconda police May 10, and asked them to check for Bender at a house in the 2400 block of Bluewater Drive in Wauconda, officials said. That house is also owned by the victim.
Officers found him there, and surrounded the house because they believed he may have been armed with a handgun, authorities said. Bender surrendered peacefully after a two-hour standoff, but no gun was recovered, authorities said.
Bender's trial is scheduled for Oct. 5. He is scheduled to return to court Aug. 25.