Elgin man charged with beating 4-year-old with belt

An Elgin father was arrested Thursday on charges he beat his 4-year-old daughter with a leather belt after she had an accident in an upstairs bathroom.

Terry W. Barnhill, 34, was charged with aggravated battery to a child and aggravated battery with the use of a weapon, police said.

According to a police report that originally was submitted to the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, Barnhill on Sunday became infuriated after the girl had the accident about 10 p.m. and struck her numerous times on the back of her legs and buttocks with a leather belt, causing extensive bruising.

Barnhill then ordered the girl to run downstairs and then return upstairs again in approximately 10 seconds, according to the report.

She tried but didn't make it in time.

When she returned upstairs, Barnhill informed her she exceeded the time limit, so he struck her five more times, causing more bruising, according to the report.

When Kane County Judge Kevin T. Busch asked him if he had anything to say at his bond call Friday, Barnhill replied: "I would ask for leniency on bail. I have to work. If I can't post bail, my family can't have food."

But the judge said photographic evidence of the girl's injuries didn't warrant a lower bond. Bond was set at 10 percent of $70,000.

He was unable to post bond and was sent to the Kane County jail Friday afternoon to await a court date on Oct. 17 at the Kane County Judicial Center.