Fitness evaluation ordered in Carpentersville hammer attack
A fitness evaluation has been ordered for a Carpentersville man accused of beating a woman with a hammer, raping her young daughter and stabbing their dog in March.
A judge will evaluate a report on Daniel J. Happ, 28, on July 18. He faces up to 30 years if convicted, but up to a 60-year extended term if the court finds the crimes were exceptionally heinous or indicative of wanton cruelty.
In recently filed court documents, Kane County Assistant Public Defender Eun Yoon indicated she had bona fide doubts as to Happ's fitness to stand trial. Psychologists at the Kane County Diagnostic Center were instructed to perform an evaluation.
Yoon was unavailable for comment to elaborate on the court motion.
Happ has been held at the Kane County jail on $3 million bail since his arrest, meaning he must post $300,000 in order to be free while his case is pending.
He faces 11 felony charges, including attempted murder, aggravated criminal sexual assault, predatory criminal sexual assault of a victim younger than 14, armed violence and aggravated cruelty to animals, according to court records.
Carpentersville police were called to a home in the 1200 block of Brookdale Drive at 12:53 a.m. March 7 for a disturbance.
Authorities found a 23-year-old woman unconscious from being hit repeatedly in the head with a hammer, an 8-year-old girl and the injured dog, reports said.
Happ threatened to beat the girl with a hammer as he sexually assaulted her, according to court documents.