Cops: St. Charles man bites woman, charged with felony

A 51-year-old St. Charles man was behind bars Thursday on charges he bit a woman during a custody dispute over a dog, police said.

Donald C. Paul, of the 0-99 block of North 12th Street, was arrested about 6:15 p.m. Wednesday after an altercation in a minivan parked on the 1100 block of Dean Street in St. Charles.

Police said Paul and the victim were arguing over which one of them would care for a dog when Paul bit the woman's wrist in an attempt to wrest the animal away from her. She was not seriously injured.

Paul also smashed the woman's phone when she tried to call for help, and tried to take the keys to the minivan away from her, police spokesman Paul McCurtain said.

Authorities initially charged Paul with aggravated battery in a public place and two misdemeanor counts of domestic battery. An additional charge of armed violence, a Class X felony, was added after police found a switchblade knife in Paul's possession, McCurtain said.

Illinois statute allows a person to be charged with armed violence anytime they possess a weapon while carrying out a felony offense - even if the weapon is not used.

Paul appears to have no other criminal history in Kane County. If convicted of armed violence, he could be sentenced to up to 30 years in prison.

Paul was being held in the county jail Thursday afternoon while awaiting bond call. He is scheduled to appear July 15 before Kane County Judge Thomas E. Mueller.