Elgin man charged with forcibly hugging, kissing woman

An Elgin man was charged with battery Thursday for ignoring a woman's demands to stop hugging and kissing her, court records show.

According to documents, the woman works as a certified nurse's assistant at Bowes Retirement Home in the 100 block of North Gifford Street, where 53-year-old Fred Harper lives.

She said an intoxicated Harper approached her Thursday, hugged her and repeatedly kissed her on the side of her face, even though she told him to stop several times, records show.

The woman called police soon after - prosecutors say there is no indication the two are romantically linked. Kane County Judge John Noverini on Friday set Harper's bond at 10 percent of $5,000.

During the bond call hearing, Harper said he didn't understand the battery charge.

"I kissed her, but I didn't touch nobody," he told Noverini.

Harper is due back in court 9 a.m. Tuesday at Elgin Branch Court.

He faces up to a year in prison on the misdemeanor charge.