Palatine man admits battery, violating protection order

A 29-year-old Palatine man pleaded guilty Thursday to charges he pushed, shoved and choked his ex-girlfriend when she told him she was pregnant and then, after posting bond to get out of jail, dialed up another old girlfriend and left myriad harassing phone messages.

In accordance with a plea deal struck with prosecutors, Peter J. Poulos was sentenced to three years in jail for the charge of aggravated battery to a pregnant woman and 20 days in prison -- time he's already served -- for violating an order of protection. When he gets out of prison, he'll have two orders of protection prohibiting him from interacting with either of the ex-girlfriends for two years.

Poulos also faced charges of criminal sexual assault and disorderly conduct, but those were dropped in the deal.

Prosecutors said Poulos became violent in January when his ex-girlfriend told him she was pregnant -- pushing and choking her as the two argued. She was at least six weeks pregnant at the time, prosecutors said.

Poulos was ordered held on $250,000 bond; after shelling out $25,000 to get out of jail in late June, he called another former girlfriend "up to 40 times" and left harassing voicemails, prosecutors said.

Poulos, who already has served jail time for a 2001 theft, told Cook County Judge James Etchingham he plans to "stay out of trouble" after finishing up this prison term.

Poulos has spent 216 days in jail in connection with his current charges. That time counts toward his sentence.