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Man fit for trial in Carpentersville hammer attack, sexual assault

A 28-year-old Carpentersville man has been ruled fit to stand trial on charges he beat a woman with a hammer, raped her 8-year-old daughter and stabbed their dog.

A psychologist at the Kane County Diagnostic Center performed an evaluation July 2 on Daniel J. Happ, of the 1600 block of Seminole Drive, and ruled he was fit to stand trial.

Judge Marmarie Kostelny agreed; Happ is due in court on Oct. 10.

Assistant Public Defender Eun Yoon had asked for the evaluation, saying she had bona fide doubts about her client’s ability to stand trial. Yoon declined to comment after a brief court hearing Wednesday.

Happ has been held at the Kane County jail on $3 million bail since his arrest in March, 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 on 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 records.

Assistant State’s Attorney Greg Sams declined to comment on to what extent the woman and child had recovered so far from the attack.

Police: Carpentersville man beat woman with hammer, nearly killing her

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