Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow announced a jury found Nicole Vieni, 36, of Chicago, guilty of aggravated battery of a senior citizen (Class 3 Felony), domestic violence (Class A Misdemeanor), and interfering with reporting eomestic violence (Class A Misdemeanor). The jury reached its verdict recently following a trial over which Circuit Judge John Connor presided.
The 78-year-old victim, Vieni’s mother-in-law, was living with the defendant in 2019 when the abuse occurred. The victim was in her bed in her locked bedroom when Vieni, who was intoxicated, broke through the door and struck the victim several times, knocking her to the floor. Vieni then took her mother-in-law’s phone and called 911, alleging she had been struck by the victim and seeking permission to hit her back. Vieni ultimately admitted on the 911 call she already had hit the victim. When the police arrived, Vieni was still at the home and her mother-in-law was lying on her bedroom floor unable to get up. Vieni’s five-year-old twin girls also were in the home at the time the abuse occurred. Sentencing is scheduled for May 17.
The National Council on Aging estimates that approximately one in 10 Americans aged 60 and over have experienced some form of elder abuse. In almost 60 percent of elder abuse and neglect incidents, the perpetrator is a family member. Two thirds of perpetrators are adult children or spouses.