Crime & Safety
Man Hog-Tied 8-Year-Old for Stealing 'Treats,' Police Say
Byron Watt has been charged with aggravated battery of a child; the victim has been removed from the custody of his mother and stepfather, Joliet police said.
A Joliet man has been arrested for hog-tying his stepson to punish the 8-year-old for taking "treats" from the man's room, Joliet Police Cmdr. Brian Benton said.
The situation was brought to the police on May 26 after the child's father noticed wounds on the boy's wrists and asked him what happened, Benton said. The boy said his stepfather, 26-year-old Byron G. Watt, had used cable ties to pin his hands and feet back after he'd been caught stealing, he said.
Following a victim-sensitive interview with a Will County child advocacy specialist, in which the child reaffirmed what happened, a warrant was issued for Watt's arrest and the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services was contacted, Benton said.
The boy's mother refused to cooperate with police and officers were unable to find Watt to arrest him on aggravated battery to a child and domestic battery charges until Wednesday afternoon, he said.
The child had been living with Watt and the boy's mother at 109 3rd Ave. but was removed from the home by DCFS. Benton said he did not know if the boy was being cared for by his father or another family member.
Watt is being held in the Will County jail in lieu of $75,000 bond.
Following a victim-sensitive interview with a Will County child advocacy specialist, in which the child reaffirmed what happened, a warrant was issued for Watt's arrest and the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services was contacted, Benton said.
The boy's mother refused to cooperate with police and officers were unable to find Watt to arrest him on aggravated battery to a child and domestic battery charges until Wednesday afternoon, he said.
The child had been living with Watt and the boy's mother at 109 3rd Ave. but was removed from the home by DCFS. Benton said he did not know if the boy was being cared for by his father or another family member.
Watt is being held in the Will County jail in lieu of $75,000 bond.
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