McHenry man arrested after bloody Sycamore bar fight injures two

SYCAMORE – A McHenry man is facing criminal charges after police say he broke a man’s eye socket and injured another during a bar fight at Cub & Spank’s in Sycamore Thursday.

James Scott Bax, 34, of the 4400 block of West Shamrock Lane, McHenry, was arrested and charged with aggravated battery in a public place and aggravated battery resulting in great bodily harm, both Class 3 felonies. He’s also charged with driving while under the influence of alcohol, a Class A misdemeanor. If convicted of either felony charge, Bax could face up to five years in prison.

Bax appeared from the DeKalb County Jail before Judge Joseph Voiland during a virtual bond hearing Thursday. Public Defender Tom McCulloch was appointed to represent Bax in court.

According to DeKalb County court documents, Sycamore police were called at 12:10 a.m. Thursday to Cub & Spank’s Bar, 113 N. Maple St. in Sycamore for a report of a fight happening at the bar.

“Upon arrival, there was an abundance of blood all over the bar floor,” according to court documents.

Two men told police Bax punched them in the face, according to court documents. One man’s nose was bleeding and the other man had a broken left orbital floor injury, meaning a bone in his eye socket broke as a result of the fight, records show.

Police allege Bax left the scene and drove his car while under the influence of alcohol, according to court documents. Officers pulled Bax over at North California Street and West Exchange Street and saw “several lacerations to Bax’s right hand” and blood on his hands and neck, according to records.

“While speaking with Bax, [police] could smell the odor of an alcoholic beverage emitting from the interior of the vehicle,” according to court documents.

Bax refused field sobriety testing and was later arrested, according to court documents.

DeKalb County Assistant State’s Attorney Brooks Locke asked Voiland to set a monetary bond for Bax. Brooks asked that if Bax were released from jail, the McHenry man be prohibited from talking to victims and not allowed to drink alcohol.

McCulloch asked Voiland to release Bax on a recognizance bond, which wouldn’t require any money and instead be through a signature.

Voiland set Bax’s bond at $10,000. He would need to post $1,000 to be released. Bax also was ordered not to contact the victims.

Bax is due back in DeKalb County court 10 a.m. March 21 in front of DeKalb County Judge Philip Montgomery.