Judge refuses to lower bond for C'ville sitter charged in infant's death

A Kane County judge refused to lower bond Thursday for an unlicensed Carpentersville baby sitter charged with involuntary manslaughter in the death of an infant.

Judge T. Jordan Gallagher said he was "not inclined" to reduce bond for Deanna L. Williams, 44, after prosecutors argued in court that she is a threat to the public.

Williams, who is being held on $100,000 bond, was indicted last week in the April 22 death of 8-month-old Sparsh Dhar, who authorities said overheated and died of hyperthermia after being left under a blanket for five hours.

Assistant Kane County State's Attorney Pam Monaco said the seriousness of the charges and Williams' background, which includes a 2006 conviction for resisting police, make her "a danger to the community." She noted that Williams, of the 3800 block of Parsons Road, had previous run-ins with the Department of Child and Family Services and was not a licensed day care provider.

Defense attorney Marc Wolfe countered that Williams has led a mostly law-abiding life and a similar incident would be "very unlikely to occur again."

"She is devastated by these circumstances and the situation, just as I'm sure the parents of the child are," Wolfe said, adding that Williams has the support of her family. "The danger to the public is virtually nonexistent."

A Kane County coroner's jury in July ruled the infant's death a homicide after hearing testimony from a police detective who said Williams admitted to leaving the child in a car seat situated near a bedroom window, and under for at least five hours. She also left the child and her 8-year-old son unattended twice that day while driving her 15-year-old daughter to and from track practice, police said at an inquest.

Williams, charged with involuntary manslaughter and four counts of endangering the life or health of a child, faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted. Her next court date is Nov. 13.