Current:Home > BackEx-Illinois child welfare worker guilty of endangerment after boy beaten to death by mom-DB Wealth Institute B2 Expert Reviews
Ex-Illinois child welfare worker guilty of endangerment after boy beaten to death by mom
View Date:2024-12-23 18:21:21
WOODSTOCK, Ill. (AP) — A judge convicted a former state child welfare worker Friday of child endangerment in connection with the 2019 beating death of a 5-year-old suburban Chicago boy by his mother, but the judge acquitted the man’s supervisor.
Lake County Judge George Strickland found Carlos Acosta, 57 of Woodstock, who was a case investigator for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, guilty of the child endangerment charge but acquitted him of a reckless conduct charge, news outlets reported.
Strickland said he could not find Acosta’s supervisor, Andrew Polovin, 51, of Island Lake, guilty of either charge because he did not know how much Polovin knew about the abuse of the boy, Andrew “AJ” Freund of Crystal Lake.
AJ died in April 2019 after being beaten by his mother. JoAnn Cunningham. She is serving a 35-year sentence for his murder.
The boy’s father, Andrew Freund Sr., was sentenced to 30 years in prison for covering up the murder by burying the boy’s body in a field.
Acosta and Polovin were accused of ignoring numerous warning signs of the boy’s abuse.
Polovin’s attorney, Matthew McQuaid, said he and his client were “grateful” for the verdict.
“I never thought he committed a crime,” McQuaid said.
He said Polovin, who was fired by the state, now works in a different field.
Authorities said Cunningham killed AJ on April 15, 2019, after she became angry about soiled underwear that he had tried to hide. She forced the boy to stand in a cold shower for at least 20 minutes, hit him in the head with the shower head, and then put him to bed cold, wet and naked, authorities said.
AJ’s body was found wrapped in plastic in a shallow grave near the family’s home in Crystal Lake.
veryGood! (5)
Related
- Kentucky officer reprimanded for firing non-lethal rounds in 2020 protests under investigation again
- What's in tattoo ink? Expert says potentially concerning additives weren't listed on the packaging
- A family's guide to the total solar eclipse: Kids activities, crafts, podcast parties and more
- If LSU keeps playing like this, the Tigers will be toast, not a title team
- Who's hosting 'SNL' tonight? Musical guest, start time, where to watch Nov. 9 episode
- Swiping on dating apps has turned into a career for some. Here's how they turned love into a job.
- Amazon Has Major Deals on Beauty Brands That Are Rarely on Sale: Tatcha, Olaplex, Grande Cosmetics & More
- Pharmacist and her license were targeted by scammers. How to avoid becoming a victim.
- Why Suits' Gabriel Macht Needed Time Away From Harvey Specter After Finale
- Both major lottery jackpots ballooning: Latest news on Mega Millions, Powerball drawings
Ranking
- 'This dude is cool': 'Cross' star Aldis Hodge brings realism to literary detective
- Museum, historical group launch search for wreckage of ace pilot Richard Bong’s crashed plane
- March Madness Sweet 16 dates, times, TV info for 2024 NCAA Tournament
- 18-year-old charged with vehicular homicide in crash that killed a woman and 3 children in a van
- Kraft Heinz stops serving school-designed Lunchables because of low demand
- Shop QVC's Free Ship Weekend & Save Big on Keurig, Dyson, Tile Bluetooth Trackers & More
- Kristin Juszczyk Talks Designing A Custom Look for Caitlin Clark and Game Day Style Hacks
- Millie Bobby Brown and Jake Bongiovi Celebrate Third Dating Anniversary Ahead of Wedding
Recommendation
-
Wildfire map: Thousands of acres burn near New Jersey-New York border; 1 firefighter dead
-
MLB's very bad week: Shohei Ohtani gambling scandal, union civil war before Opening Day
-
What a Thrill! See the Cast of Troop Beverly Hills Then and Now
-
Geomagnetic storm from a solar flare could disrupt radio communications and create a striking aurora
-
Tennessee suspect in dozens of rapes is convicted of producing images of child sex abuse
-
Turn Your Bathroom Into a Spa-Like Oasis with These Essential Products from Amazon's Big Spring Sale
-
March Madness expert predictions: Our picks for today's men's Round 2 games
-
Save Up to 50% on Shapewear Deals From the Amazon Big Spring Sale: Feel Fabulous for Less