Father held in abuse in Lake County

Three-month-old Alex Mitchell could suffer for the rest of his life after being slammed into a changing table by his 41-year-old father, police officials said.

Daniel Mitchell has been charged by prosecutors with two counts of aggravated battery of a child, sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Christopher Thompson said Wednesday. He remains in the Lake County jail on a $750,000 bond. His next court date is Nov. 2.

Mitchell could face between six and 30 years in prison on each count if convicted.

Thompson said Countryside Rescue was summoned Monday morning to the Mitchells' home on the 25000 block of Tahoe Drive near Mundelein for reports of Alex being sick and lethargic. Mitchell's wife was at work at the time.

Alex was transported to Condell Medical Center, where a CAT scan was performed. The scan showed Alex suffered physical trauma indicative of shaken baby syndrome, Thompson said.

The infant was airlifted to Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago, where investigators were advised that Alex will likely remain "for a long time" and "could very likely suffer long-term effects" from the incident, Thompson said. He remains in critical condition.

Police questioned Daniel Mitchell, who said Alex became fussy after soiling a diaper, and that he might have slammed Alex into the changing table too hard, Thompson said.

Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran said, "To harm any child under any circumstances is simply inexcusable. I am sickened by the actions of Mr. Mitchell and I am confident our justice system will deal with him appropriately."