Probation for ex-Batavia fire lieutenant in third domestic abuse case
A former Batavia fire department lieutenant was sentenced to two years of probation Friday after pleading guilty to felony aggravated battery against his wife, his third arrest on domestic abuse charges in the past two decades.
Ralph A. Strange, 50, of the 34W200 block of Sunset Drive, Batavia, was initially charged with felony aggravated domestic battery after the Aug. 9, 2015, incident in which he was accused of punching his wife of 21 years in the face several times and kicking her in the knee, according to Kane County court records.
Two days after the attack, a relative insisted the woman go to the hospital for her injuries, which included a broken nose and fractured orbital bone, records show. Strange was arrested Aug. 13 and put on administrative leave.
He pleaded guilty Friday to the reduced charge of aggravated battery causing great bodily harm, which is still a felony, records show. Strange is to have no contact with the victim during probation. He also was ordered to pay $2,420 in fines and fees.
The latest conviction marked Strange's third arrest on domestic violence charges.
Batavia police first arrested Strange on misdemeanor domestic battery charges in May 1996, according to court records. The charges were later stricken, with the option to reinstate. In October 2010, Kane County sheriff deputies arrested Strange on domestic battery charges to which he later pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of misdemeanor battery, was fined $310, and sentenced to 18 months of conditional discharge, which is a form of probation.
He also was arrested on DUI charges in February 2006 in Geneva, records show. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to a year of supervision, fined nearly $1,800, and ordered to attend a victim impact panel, records show.
After his August arrest, Strange was put on paid administrative leave while the city investigated whether he should be fired.
Wendy Bednarek, Batavia's human resources director, said Strange resigned from his position on Nov. 2; he began as a part-time firefighter in 1985 before going full-time in 1990.
"He resigned," Bednarek said. "He had enough years of service to retire from the fire department."
A message left with Strange's defense attorney, David Camic, was not immediately returned Friday.
If Strange violates his probation, he could be resentenced to up to five years in prison.