Man upset by text messages allegedly attacks, seriously injures elderly person in Woodstock

Court documents say a man, angry about text messages sent to his wife, tracked down the elderly man who sent them and attacked him, leaving him seriously injured in Woodstock.

Robert S. Caldwell, 38, of Wonder Lake, was charged with aggravated assault causing great bodily harm, aggravated assault on a victim over 60 and aggravated assault in a public place.

According to court documents, Caldwell discovered text messages sent to his wife by another man.

Caldwell found the man, who was in his 60s, and beat him, court documents say.

The attack, which took place around 7:30 p.m. last Thursday in Woodstock, was witnessed by a minor.

A criminal complaint filed in McHenry County Circuit Court said the victim suffered serious bodily injury.

The complaint states that Caldwell struck the victim in the jaw with a closed fist, causing him to lose consciousness and fall backward onto the sidewalk.

The victim hit his head on the pavement, causing a brain hemorrhage.

The McHenry County District Attorney’s Office filed a motion to detain Caldwell pending trial.

McHenry County Judge Carl Metz granted the request and said no conditions of release could mitigate the real and present threat Caldwell poses.

The judge also noted that the allegations were vicious and that Caldwell had a lengthy criminal record of nine pages.

Caldwell, who is being held in the McHenry County Jail, is scheduled to appear in court again on July 10.