Trio accused of reckless conduct, child endangerment released on PR bond

Posted on July 26, 2018
(Left to right) Kerigan Wood, Donald Connelly, and Nicholas Bays are accused of child endangerment and reckless conduct.(McLean County Jail)

By Patrick Baron

BLOOMINGTON – A McLean County judge has released a Bloomington trio on their own recognizance after a three month old baby received second degree burns when the three allegedly accidentally set off a firework in a car.

McLean County Associate Judge Amy McFarland made the decision after McLean County prosecutors filed reckless conduct (a felony) and child endangerment (a misdemeanor) charges against Kerigan Wood, 20, Donald Connelly, 19, and Nicholas Bays, 21. The three reportedly set off fireworks on Bloomington’s west side from the window of a car when one exploded in the backseat, giving the infant second degree burns. The infant was taken to a Springfield hospital to be treated for its burns, while Wood, Connelly, and Bays received treatment at a local hospital for minor injuries.

Wood and Connelly are the parents of the infant. They are not allowed to see their child without approval from the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.

Wood, Connelly, and Bays each have no prior criminal history. McFarland released them from custody on $10,000 personal recognizance bonds.

The three are scheduled to appear in court for an arraignment hearing on August 3 at 10 a.m.

Patrick Baron can be reached at [email protected].

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…