Lake in the Hills woman sent to jail over belt beating

A Lake in the Hills woman was sentenced Tuesday to 45 days in jail after admitting to a reduced charge alleging she beat a former roommate's 7-year-old daughter with a belt.

Tina A. Shaw, 37, of the 200 block of Clear Sky Trail, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor domestic battery under an agreement with McHenry County prosecutors in which she also will serve two years probation and pay a $1,000 fine. As part of the deal, Shaw will serve the jail time on weekends only.

In return for the guilty plea, prosecutors reduced the charge from its original aggravated domestic battery, a felony for which Shaw could have faced three to seven years in prison if convicted after a trial.

The charge stemmed from a Feb. 12, 2007, incident in Crystal Lake in which, Assistant McHenry County State's Attorney Simeon Kim said, Shaw "caused bodily harm by striking (the child) with a belt on the buttocks and back, causing bruising and welts."

Shaw attorney John Ridgway said, "If anything, it was a case of excessive discipline."