Joliet Police Arrest Man Who Used His Leather Belt Against 14-Year-Old Girl: Prosecutors

JOLIET, IL — Will County Judge Chrystel Gavlin turned down a petition to deny pretrial release filed by the Will County State's Attorney's Office in connection with this week's Joliet police arrest of Aurora resident Donshea Merrick on two crimes of domestic battery.

Merrick spent three days in the Will County Jail, regaining his freedom on Wednesday following Judge Gavlin's ruling in his favor.

According to the prosecution's petition, Joliet police officers responded on Monday to the 3900 block of Pathfinder Lane and they interviewed Merrick. He indicated that he came home from work and confronted the 14-year-old girl about being suspended from school. He demanded her electronics and an argument erupted and "defendant struck her with his leather belt, defendant then left the room," prosecutors notified Judge Gavlin.

The officers interviewed the 14-year-old and she indicated she was suspended from school for fighting another student, court files show. Joliet police saw several welts, raised skin and blood on the 14-year-old's body where the belt struck her. Prosecutors noted they were not sure who called 911, however, the victim FaceTimed her mother and told her what Merrick did." Both the victim and the girl's mother wanted criminal charges brought against Merrick, prosecutors indicated

As for Merrick's past, his 2022 possession of controlled substances case was dismissed in Kane County, he was guilty of possession of controlled substances in 2016 in Cook County. He was guilty of domestic battery in 2012 in Kane County, resisting arrest in 2012. Two other criminal cases from 2012 and 2020 were dismissed.

In issuing her ruling, Judge Gavlin ordered Merrick to go on electronic monitoring "until further order." She also ordered him to stay away from a house in Plano as well as the 14-year-old girl.