A 31-year-old Galesburg mother made a video appearance in Knox County Circuit Court where her bond was set at $25,000 for a felony charge of aggravated battery to a child.
Judge Raymond A. Cavanaugh set bond and appointed a public defender for Fleurette F. Comes, who faces the class three felony as well as a pair of misdemeanor charges of domestic battery and endangering the life/health of a child.
According to a Galesburg Police report, officers took a walk-in complaint of domestic battery from a family member. The man said that Comes had been drinking since 7:00 a.m., and was angry with her 14-year-old daughter and repeatedly struck her while the teenager was holding her newborn sister and subsequently struck the baby on the side of the head.
Officers went to the residence, located in the 1500-block of McKnight Street and spoke with the 14-year-old regarding the complaint. She told police that her mother, Comes, had struck her numerous times in the face with a closed fist. She also told officers that Comes struck the baby in the side of the head while she was holding her.
Additionally, officers learned that Comes allegedly threw the teenager against a window sill, bit her arm, threw her into a wall, threw shoes at her, and stomped on her stomach. The infant had a knot on the side of her head.
The police report notes that officers observed a swollen lip on the teenager’s face and were told she had been bleeding from the mouth and nose. Officers also found a bite mark on her elbow and a mark on the back of her neck.
Blood-soaked paper towels were found in the kitchen, and blood splatter found in the living room, Comes’ bedroom on the floor and a playpen, with multiple bottles of alcohol observed around the mother’s bed.
The baby was transported to Cottage Hospital for evaluation. Assistant State’s Attorney Sabrina Stroops said she didn’t have an update on the infant’s condition at Monday’s detention hearing. She did tell Judge Cavanaugh that the Department of Children and Family Services had been contacted and a shelter care hearing was scheduled for Tuesday.
The state asked for $50,000 in bond with a no-contact request for the children. Judge Cavanaugh told Comes that the injuries to the infant, “could be fatal,” and set bail at half the requested amount with the no contact stipulation for the two alleged victims.
A preliminary hearing was scheduled for November 26th.
