Oak Forest attorney arrested on sexual assault charge
By Casey Toner ctoner@southtownstar.com September 15, 2011 10:44PM
Updated: November 10, 2011 11:00AM
An Oak Forest attorney who allegedly sexually assaulted a woman in his home last week was arrested Thursday and appeared in court, where his bail was reaffirmed at $300,000.
David Baitman, 59, 14868 Landings Lane, was arrested by Oak Forest police at Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn. Baitman had been in the hospital’s psychiatric ward since Sept. 6 when a relative drove him there after the alleged sexual assault, police said.
On Sept. 8, Cook County Circuit Judge Joan M. O’Brien approved an arrest warrant for aggravated sexual abuse for Baitman, and set bail at $300,000. Judge Peter Felice left that
bail unchanged Thursday. Baitman is next set to appear Oct. 14 at the Bridgeview courthouse.
Baitman, the Oak Forest hearing officer and a retired Cook County assistant public defender, allegedly handcuffed the woman, cut off her clothing with a scissors and gagged and blindfolded her before he sexually assaulted her, police said.
Oak Forest officials said they will replace him as the hearing officer.
