CHICAGO — A man paroled in September after serving half of a 60-year sentence he received for sexually assaulting a 7-year-old at a Chicago children’s hospital is now accused of trying to murder his girlfriend in January. State officials have revoked parole for James Spratt, 51, who is now back in prison with a new parole date set for September 2027.
Spratt was 20 years old when he was charged with raping the child in her room at the old Wyler Children’s Hospital at the University of Chicago.
Prosecutors in that case said Spratt entered the girl’s room around 12:35 a.m. while she was sleeping and put a pillow over her face during the attack. Spratt denied being at the hospital at the time of the assault, although he did admit to being there many times to steal things from patients, according to a contemporaneous Chicago Tribune story.
A jury convicted Spratt, who received a 60-year sentence in 1996, court records show. He was released on parole on September 5.
Now, he is charged with attempted murder, aggravated battery causing great bodily harm, and seven more felonies for allegedly attacking his girlfriend on January 23. Prosecutors told Judge Susana Ortiz that he approached the woman from behind, put her in a chokehold, and punched her repeatedly, according to court filings.
In a detention order, Ortiz said the woman suffered an orbital fracture, a fractured sinus, and cuts that required stitches. Neighbors broke in the door to stop the attack, the order said. He subsequently ordered the woman not to file charges and sent a text saying, “I know everything about you,” Ortiz wrote.
The judge noted that Spratt had also cut off the ankle monitor he was required to wear while on parole.
