WOODSTOCK, IL — A 48-year-old Woodstock man, identified as Steven Torres, is facing felony domestic battery charges after allegedly striking a woman in the head with an object early Sunday and downplaying the severity of the injury.
Initially charged with misdemeanor domestic battery, Torres’ charges were upgraded Monday to a Class 2 felony—domestic battery with at least four prior convictions. If convicted, he faces 3 to 7 years in prison, and potentially up to 14 years if deemed eligible for an extended sentence due to his criminal history.
Incident Details
According to McHenry County Assistant State’s Attorney Garrett Miller, police responded to a 3 a.m. call Sunday at a home where a woman was found bleeding from a head wound. She told authorities that Torres struck her with a hatchet, then dismissed her injuries, saying she was “fine” and should just “go to sleep.”
Prosecutors say Torres then took the woman’s phone, preventing her from calling for help. She escaped to a neighbor’s house, where Torres allegedly followed her, again claiming “she’s fine” before fleeing. The neighbor let her in and called police.
The woman told officers she feared for her life, noting escalating violence in their relationship.
Defense and Court Proceedings
Assistant Public Defender David Giesinger said police did not locate a hatchet, and that Torres denies any physical violence, claiming instead that the woman was intoxicated and hit her head in the bathroom. Giesinger argued for Torres’ pretrial release, suggesting electronic monitoring and alternative housing in Carpentersville.
But Miller called the alleged attack “heinous” and said Torres showed “an extremely high level of dangerousness,” citing an extensive record of domestic abuse.
Judge Cynthia Lamb denied Torres’ release, ordering him held without bail pending trial. She cited at least four prior domestic battery convictions, including:
Misdemeanor convictions in Kane County (2003) and McHenry County (2019, 2020)
A 2023 felony domestic battery conviction in McHenry County
Kane County records also show 2011 convictions for felony aggravated domestic battery and felony domestic battery
The case remains under investigation.
