Des Plaines man charged with aggravated battery

A Des Plaines man who was fired from his job with a Chicago church because of a domestic battery arrest has been charged again after he beat a woman and later forced her to go to a meeting at that church with him, police said.

During the meeting, the victim was able to meet alone with the church’s pastor, who contacted police after hearing of the abuse, according to the Cook County sheriff’s office.

Bail was set at $10,000 Monday for Fernando Gonzalez, 26, of the 9200 block of Golf Road. He was charged with aggravated domestic battery and unlawful interference with the reporting of domestic violence, according to police.

Gonzalez had been recently fired from the church because of his prior domestic battery arrest and had scheduled a meeting with the pastor for Friday, according to police.

Gonzalez repeatedly struck the victim in the head and face Friday during an argument and also choked her, according to police.

When she tried to call police on a cell phone, Gonzalez grabbed the phone and continued the attack, police said.

After the beating, during which Gonzalez threw the victim onto the ground and strangled her when she tried to scream for help, Gonzalez demanded that she go with him to the church, according to police.

Police helped the victim file an order of protection and linked her with safe havens.

Gonzalez is due in court April 18.