March 28, 2024
Police Reports

Batavia man charged with keeping woman in basement against her will

Neighbor witnessed screaming, struggling woman; called police

BATAVIA – A Batavia man was charged with felony aggravated domestic battery and unlawful restraint after a woman he kept in the basement against her will tried to escape and a neighbor reported witnessing a man carrying the screaming woman back into the home, according to a news release from Batavia police.

The witness called police at 7:18 a.m. today to report the incident and that the woman appeared to be struggling to get away as the man carried back to the house.

Rogelio R. Ybarra, 34, of the 1200 block of North Washington Avenue, Batavia, was also charged with felony domestic battery causing bodily harm due to a prior conviction, the release stated.

When police arrived, they met the woman in the doorway and she came out of the home. An elderly woman was also located and assisted from the home, the release stated.

The woman told police Ybarra held her in the basement against her will. She tried to escape and flee from the home, but Ybarra caught her in the driveway and pulled her back into the residence, the release stated.

The victim told police Ybarra battered her repeatedly throughout the incident.

The victim was transported to an area hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

Ybarra and the victim are family household members, the release stated.

Ybarra was believed to have barricaded himself in the basement and would not comply with police orders to show himself, the release stated.

The roadway was shut down due to to the on-going police activity and neighboring residents were asked to shelter in place.

Deputies from the Kane County Sheriff’s Office came to assist and deployed robots, drones and a canine in an effort to locate the suspect, eventually locating Ybarra in the basement and he was taken into custody without incident, the release stated. Geneva police also assisted.

Ybarra is currently being held in the Kane County jail on a $43,000 bond. He would have to post $4,300 or 10% as bail. He has a court date of Dec. 8, records show.

Ybarra is also being held on several unrelated warrants, the release stated.

The most serious charge, aggravated domestic battery, is a Class 2 felony punishable by four to seven years in prison and fines up to $25,000, if convicted.

The other two charges are Class 4 felonies, punishable by one to three years in prison and fines up to $25,000, if convicted.