OTTAWA, Ill. — A longtime childcare worker at Starved Rock Regional Center for Therapy and Child Development has been charged with two felony counts of aggravated battery after Ottawa Police say an investigation turned up surveillance footage tying her to separate incidents involving two children under 13. Anna M. Cervantes, 66, of Ottawa, was booked into the La Salle County Jail on August 31, 2026, and held without bond before being released the next day under GPS-monitored pretrial conditions. A grand jury indicted her on both counts on September 8.
By Willow Moss | Moss and Ink | First published September 10, 2026, updated September 22, 2026
Case Status
- Current status: A grand jury indicted Cervantes on both counts September 8, 2026. Defense filed a formal appearance, plea, demand, and motion on September 16. She remains out on pretrial release under GPS monitoring; arraignment is next on the calendar.
- Next court date: Arraignment set for October 2, 2026 at 9:00 a.m.
- Charges: Two Class 3 felony counts — aggravated battery to a child under 13 causing bodily harm (720 ILCS 5/12-3.05(b)(2)) and aggravated battery in a public place (720 ILCS 5/12-3.05(c)). Each count carries a possible sentence of 2 to 5 years in prison.
- Custody status: Held without bond at La Salle County Jail following her August 31, 2026 arrest; released September 1, 2026 on GPS-monitored pretrial release conditions.
- Case number: 2026CF000378.
- Court: La Salle County Circuit Court.
- Prosecution: La Salle County State’s Attorney’s Office; Assistant State’s Attorney Jason Goode filed the initial charges, Matthew E. Novotney presented the case to the grand jury.
- Defense: Assistant Public Defender Ryan Hamer, appointed September 1, 2026 after Cervantes was found indigent. The public defender’s office has declined to comment.
- Presiding judge: H. Chris Ryan Jr.
- Last updated: September 22, 2026.
Incident Summary
The case originated with an August 15, 2026 report to the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services alleging child abuse at a local daycare facility. Ottawa Police opened an investigation that included obtaining surveillance footage of the alleged incidents and interviewing those involved, according to police. That investigation led the La Salle County State’s Attorney’s Office to file two felony counts against Cervantes on August 31: aggravated battery to a child under 13 causing bodily harm, and aggravated battery in a public place. Both counts stem from separate alleged incidents involving two children, both under age 13.
Cervantes has worked at Starved Rock Regional Center for Therapy and Child Development, a childcare and therapy facility at 1013 Adams Street in Ottawa. Moss and Ink has requested comment from both the center’s director and its CEO; neither had responded as of publication. Both officials are also named in separate, currently open La Salle County criminal cases — Moss and Ink has not yet confirmed whether those cases relate in any way to this one and will update this report if they do.
Suspect Background
- Age: 66
- City: Ottawa, Illinois
- Employer: Starved Rock Regional Center for Therapy and Child Development
Arrest & Charges
- Referral: Illinois Department of Children and Family Services report, August 15, 2026, alleging child abuse at the daycare facility.
- Investigation: Ottawa Police obtained surveillance footage of the alleged incidents and interviewed those involved.
- Location: Starved Rock Regional Center for Therapy and Child Development, 1013 Adams Street, Ottawa.
- Arrest: Cervantes was booked into the La Salle County Jail on August 31, 2026.
- Charges: Aggravated battery to a child under 13 causing bodily harm (Class 3 felony, 720 ILCS 5/12-3.05(b)(2)); aggravated battery in a public place (Class 3 felony, 720 ILCS 5/12-3.05(c)).
- Formal charges filed: August 31, 2026, in La Salle County Circuit Court.
- Indictment: A grand jury returned indictments on both counts September 8, 2026.
Case Timeline & Proceedings
August 15, 2026 — DCFS Report. The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services refers an allegation of child abuse at an Ottawa daycare facility to Ottawa Police.
Late August 2026 — Investigation. Detectives obtain surveillance footage of the alleged incidents and interview those involved, leading the La Salle County State’s Attorney’s Office to review the case for charges.
August 31, 2026 — Arrest and Charges Filed. Anna M. Cervantes is booked into the La Salle County Jail and charged with two counts of aggravated battery. She is held without bond.
September 1, 2026 — Initial Appearance. Cervantes appears in court, is found indigent, and Assistant Public Defender Ryan Hamer is appointed. She is released on pretrial conditions including GPS monitoring.
September 8, 2026 — Grand Jury Indictment. A La Salle County grand jury returns indictments on both counts. Cervantes remains out on pretrial release.
September 16, 2026 — Defense Appearance, Plea, Demand and Motion. Defense filed a formal appearance along with a combined plea, jury demand, and motion ahead of the October 2 arraignment.
October 2, 2026 — Scheduled Arraignment. Cervantes is set to appear with counsel at 9:00 a.m.
Community Reaction
News of Cervantes’ arrest has drawn heavy engagement on Facebook, where a post recapping her booking had collected more than 120 comments as of publication. Reaction has run largely in her favor. Several commenters identifying themselves as former co-workers described her as a longtime, well-regarded presence in local childcare. “I only witnessed love from Ms. Anna for the children and their families when we worked together,” one wrote, adding she hoped “the community will let the courts decide.” Others urged people to withhold judgment: “Maybe you should get all the facts first before you make a decision … What happened to innocent until proven guilty?” A smaller number of commenters pushed back; one wrote only that people were “forgetting some important details.”
How to Follow This Case
- La Salle County Circuit Court case number 2026CF000378 — searchable via the La Salle County Circuit Clerk’s online docket or public access terminal.
- Arraignment is next scheduled for October 2, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. before Judge H. Chris Ryan Jr.
Source Notes
This report draws on La Salle County Circuit Court docket records for case number 2026CF000378, reviewed September 10, 2026 and September 22, 2026; on reporting from Shaw Local, WCSJ News, and 103.9 WLPO/starvedrock.media published August 31–September 2, 2026; and on public Facebook comment activity reviewed September 10, 2026. Moss and Ink has independently confirmed Cervantes’ place of employment and requested comment from the center’s director and CEO; as of September 22, 2026, no response has been received. This report will be updated as the case proceeds and as additional information becomes available.
This is a developing story and will be updated as new information becomes available. Anna M. Cervantes is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
—Willow Moss