Carpentersville police officer denies domestic battery charge

A veteran Carpentersville police officer pleaded not guilty this week to a domestic battery charge that has landed him on desk duty since last month and could ultimately end his law-enforcement career.

Kenneth Cram, 39, faces the misdemeanor charge in connection with a Dec. 7 incident at his home in which, a criminal complaint alleges, he caused bodily harm to his girlfriend in that he "grabbed (the woman) by the throat and threw her to the ground."

His attorney, Randal Baudin, said he could not comment on the allegations, but that his client maintains his innocence and looks forward to showing it at trial if necessary.

McHenry County Sheriff's police arrested Cram about 1:30 a.m. that day after responding to a domestic disturbance at his residence near Algonquin, court documents indicate. He spent the rest of the night in the county jail, as required by state law for anyone arrested for domestic battery, then was released after posting $150 bond later that day.

The charge is a Class A misdemeanor punishable by a maximum one year in jail or a $2,500 fine. Even worse for Cram, state and federal law prohibits anyone convicted of domestic violence - including a law enforcement officer - from possessing a firearm.

Cram also was required to surrender his firearm because of his arrest and, as a result, has been placed on desk duty.

Carpentersville police Cmdr. Tim Bosshart said Cram will remain on desk duty while the case against him and an internal investigation is pending. Any further discipline, if any, will be handed out by the police chief or police and fire commission once that investigation is complete, he said.

Cram is scheduled to return to court Feb. 25 for a pretrial status hearing. A trial date has not been scheduled.