advertisement

Glen Ellyn man charged in neighbor's baseball bat beating

A Glen Ellyn man was seriously injured when he was beaten in the head with a baseball bat after arguing with a neighbor, prosecutors said Wednesday.

Bail was set at $200,000 for Joseph A. Martinez, who is accused of committing the attack about 7:30 p.m. Tuesday on the 300 block of Duane Street in Glen Ellyn.

Authorities said Martinez and the victim, both age 39, live in the same apartment complex and were visiting in another neighbor's apartment in the same area when an argument erupted.

Martinez was asked to leave but quickly returned with a baseball bat and “struck the victim over the head several times,” Assistant State's Attorney Kevin Laude said in court.

Laude said the victim required 15 staples to close a head wound and suffered “lots of bruising and breaking of the skin on his head.” The victim's arm also was severely bruised.

Martinez was arrested and charged with aggravated battery. He admitted to police that he intended to hurt the victim, Laude said.

Martinez previously served in prison for aggravated battery and is on conditional discharge for assault and court supervision for driving under the influence, according to prosecutors. He would have to pay $20,000 to bond out of jail.

DuPage County Judge Elizabeth Sexton ordered him to have no contact with the victim and to surrender any weapons to police.

His next court date is May 10 before Judge Daniel Guerin.

Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.