Woman accused of abuse pleads guilty to lesser charge

A Warren Township woman accused of beating her 6-year-old daughter with a belt pleaded guilty to a reduced charge Monday in Lake County Circuit Court.

Jennifer Jordan, 28, pleaded guilty to attempted aggravated battery to a child during a hearing before Circuit Judge John Phillips.

Assistant State's Attorney James Newman said Jordan and her live-in boyfriend, Lee Terry-Hemphill, 21, were arrested March 13 by Lake County sheriff's police.

Jordan's daughter had gone to a social worker at Woodland Elementary School the previous day and complained she was in pain over her entire body.

The girl said Jordan and Terry-Hemphill had beaten her with a belt because she was late getting up for school the previous day, Newman said.

An examination by doctors at Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville revealed bruises on her back, buttocks, thighs and arms that appeared to have been made by a belt, Newman said.

Detectives said both Jordan and Terry-Hemphill admitted striking the girl, and they found an 1½-inch

leather belt folded in quarters and wrapped in duct tape in the couple's apartment on the 3400 block of North Almond Road.

Both were charged with aggravated battery to a child, a felony that carries a mandatory prison sentence of six to 30 years in prison upon conviction.

Newman said the charge Jordan pleaded guilty to is punishable by four to 15 years in prison, but also has the possibility of probation.

Phillips ordered a psychological evaluation of Jordan and scheduled a sentencing hearing for March 4.

Terry-Hemphill has pleaded not guilty and is due to appear in court Feb. 18.

Both are held on $500,000 bond.