JOHNSONBURG — A 19-year-old Kane woman is charged with felony aggravated assault after allegedly biting part of another woman’s ear off during a fight at a party.
Karissa A. Burt of 505 1/2 Dawson St. was formally charged this week with counts stemming from the alleged Aug. 9 incident at a party in the woods near “The Tannery” in Jones Township.
Court documents said the incident occurred when Burt encountered a woman at the party, identified as Kayla Baker, leaning on her car.
After confronting her, police said Burt jumped Baker, biting off part of her ear and biting her in several other places, while also kicking her in the head and back.
Burt is also alleged to have assaulted Samantha Mericle after she tried to intervene, before turning back and continuing to assault Baker.
Police were notified after the alleged victims turned up at Kane Community Hospital for treatment of their injuries.
A man who identified himself as a relative of Baker told The Era he believed use of designer drugs, namely stimulant “bath salts,” to be involved in the incident. The claim could not be independently verified by The Era.
Burt has been summoned to appear for a preliminary hearing in Johnsonburg District Court at 9 a.m. Sept. 30. She faces three counts of aggravated assault, all first-degree felonies; and simple assault, all third-degree misdemeanors; as well as counts of reckless endangerment, a second-degree misdemeanor; disorderly conduct, a third-degree misdemeanor; harassment and criminal mischief, both summary offenses.
Online court records did not list a defense attorney in the case as of Wednesday.
