Man accused of beating boy is jailed

A Prospect Heights man accused of beating a teenager with a golf club was ordered held on $75,000 bond Saturday.

Mario Vasquez, 34, of 509 Love Drive, faces one charge of aggravated battery for the mid-October incident.

Prosecutors say Vasquez is a gang member who hit a 14-year-old boy over the head twice with the golf club Oct. 12 after confronting him as he stood on the 600 block of Piper Lane in Prospect Heights.

Vasquez asked the teen if he was a gang member, officials said; when the boy said no, Vasquez continued to accuse him of being in a gang before hitting him, prosecutors said.

The victim's injury required 12 staples, authorities said. He was released from the hospital.

Vasquez has no past criminal convictions but is on supervision for a marijuana possession charge, prosecutors said. He's set to be back in court Nov. 13.