Multiple violent charges lands DeKalb man in jail on $25K bond

SYCAMORE – A DeKalb County judge set bond at $25,000 for a DeKalb man who has been charged with a third violent crime in the past two months.

In the latest charge, Eric E. Brown Jr., 23, of the 800 block of Market Street, is accused of headbutting and trying to strangle his ex-girlfriend in her car. Brown has been charged with aggravated domestic battery and domestic battery. If convicted of the aggravated charge, he could face three to seven years in prison, which would be followed by four years of parole.

Police said in court records they responded about 12:30 p.m. Saturday to Brown’s apartment, where his ex-girlfriend said he’d just beaten up another man and taken off. The officer noticed her right eye was bruised, and he asked her how it happened.

She told the officer that about 6 p.m. Oct. 23, she and Brown were arguing in the car when he jumped over the center console and on top of her in the driver’s seat; she said Brown began hitting her in the face before headbutting her and choking her, the records show. Brown also has a pending case for resisting a police officer and disorderly conduct.

Judge Philip Montgomery set bond at $25,000, and Brown said he won’t be able to come up with $2,500 bail because he’s between jobs and had been relying on his ex-girlfriend for support. If he comes up with the bail, Brown will be placed on electronic home monitoring and be barred contact with the victim, who Assistant State’s Attorney Alicia Caplan said is in the process of getting an order of protection. Brown is due back in court at 9 a.m. Dec. 21.