McHenry County man admits beating girlfriend

A McHenry County man faces three to seven years in prison after admitting Monday to allegations he severely beat his girlfriend during what police called a three-day ordeal last year.

Jeffrey E. Mikell, 36, of Bull Valley, pleaded guilty to an aggravated domestic battery charge that says he repeatedly struck the 29-year-old woman Oct. 15, fracturing her nose and causing bruising to both eyes.

As part of his plea deal Monday, county prosecutors agreed to dismiss a pair of aggravated kidnapping charges, Class X felonies punishable by six to 30 years in prison. Assistant McHenry County State's Attorney Ryan Blackney said the charges were dropped because prosecutors could not prove the woman's whereabouts were concealed during the incident, as is required by law.

McHenry County authorities arrested Mikell several days after his former girlfriend sought medical treatment for injuries she suffered in his home over three days beginning Oct. 15.

Before she left, Mikell told the woman to tell anyone who asked about her injuries that "she tripped over a cat while walking down the stairs," Blackney said.

Mikell will remain in custody at the county jail, as he has since his arrest, until his sentencing July 22. Probation normally is possible for an aggravated domestic battery conviction, but that option was taken off the table as part of Mikell's plea deal.