Wood Dale man accused of beating 4-year-old boy

Bail was set at $500,000 Tuesday morning for a Wood Dale man accused of severely beating his girlfriend’s 4-year-old son with a belt.

Frank J. Westmoreland, 30, of the 400 block of Jeanne Court, is charged with aggravated battery to a child.

Assistant DuPage County State’s Attorney Enza LaMonica said police were called to Westmoreland’s apartment Monday after someone in the building heard a boy pleading, “Don’t hit me,” and the sound of a child being struck with a belt. The victim was later taken to a hospital for treatment of welts, malnutrition and possible internal injuries.

“It’s believed the abuse has been prolonged,” LaMonica told Judge Michael Wolfe at the bond hearing. “There was really not a spot on the child’s back that didn’t have a welt on it. When he was given food at the hospital, it was as if he was starving.”

LaMonica said the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services took the 4-year-old, along with a sibling, into protective custody.

She said Westmoreland generally looked after both children, though the victim was alone Monday when police arrived.

Westmoreland previously was convicted of aggravated battery to a child and sentenced to eight years in prison, LaMonica said. He also served two years for criminal trespass in an unrelated case.

The defendant told the judge he was not likely to be able to post the $50,000 necessary to be released from the county jail while his case is pending. If he is released, Wolfe ordered, he must have no contact with the victim or any other children.