An Illinois woman accused of headbutting a six-year-old child has been ordered to stay away from kids.

Martha Dunham, 36, who has pleaded not guilty to aggravated battery and two counts of domestic battery, was told to stay away from anyone under the age of 18 ahead of her jury trial.

Court documents allege that on December 13, 2024, she had caused pain and bodily harm to the six-year-old child by head-butting them. The filings also accuse Dunham of pulling the child’s hair and making “physical contact of an insulting or provoking nature,” according to Shaw Local News Network. She was kept at the Ogle County Jail following her arrest.

Prosecutors had asked Ogle County Judge Russell Crull not to release Dunham, given her prior conviction for domestic battery in 2006. She pleaded guilty in the case and was given a two-year conditional discharge.

The case is now set for trial
The case is now set for trial (
Image:
Getty Images/iStockphoto)

However, at a hearing on January 7, she was permitted to leave the jail, provided she had no contact with any minors. The victim’s mother had demanded an extension to an emergency protection order that she had filed following the alleged incident.

During the short hearing, Dunham agreed to the request but asked: “Can we do it until my criminal case is settled,” according to Shaw Local. Judge Crull agreed to the extension until January 28. He then recused himself from the case as he had represented the victim’s mother while he was working as a private defense attorney. Dunham was released on January 9, with her next hearing set for March 18.

Prosecutors have accused Martha Dunham of battery
Prosecutors have accused Martha Dunham of battery (
Image:
Getty Images)

The case comes as an Ohio mom was arrested after her 9-month-old child was riddled with injuries, and she ignored instructions to take the baby to the hospital. Kayla Siearra Williams, 30, was charged with two counts of second-degree endangering children and five counts of third-degree endangering children, Scioto County Sheriff David Thoroughman said in a press release.

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Deputies responded to a call just before 6 p.m. Friday from Child Services and New Boston Police Department requesting assistance after paramedics took a 9-month-old baby to a local hospital. The child was later transferred some 90 miles to Nationwide Children’s Center in Columbus where there was a specialized team of child abuse doctors and staff, Law&Crime.com reported.

The baby, whose gender was not specified, suffered broken bones, a black eye and “other unexplained injuries, police said. Law enforcement determined the oldest injury was about 10 days old while the most recent one was from around four days prior to the interview, the press release said.

Child services removed two other children from the home and Williams is currently in the Scioto County Jail on a $350,000 bond.