The father of 8-year-old Rica Rountree was arrested Tuesday.
Rica died last January after being kicked in the stomach so hard it caused massive internal injuries.
Richard Rountree’s bond stands at $100,000 after he was charged with engendering the life and health of a child.
According to the McLean County State’s Attorney Don Knapp, “the said defendant willfully permitted the life or health of Rica Rountree, a child under the age of 18 years, to be endangered in that the said defendant permitted Rica Rountree to be exposed to and failed to protect Rica Rountree from ongoing physical child abuse that was occurring within their shared residence, the said conduct being a proximate cause of the death of Rica Rountree.”
According to Knapp, Richard Rountree is eligible for an extended-term sentence.
Rica Rountree died on January 26, 2019.
Clay is now requesting a new trial and her sentencing has been delayed.
During the trial, the jury saw videos Clay took of herself abusing Rica.
Rica’s father, Richard Rountree, is seen in those videos as well.
The jury also saw text messages between the two talking about torturing Rica.
According to Rica’s autopsy, she had more than 60 scars on her body consistent with chronic child abuse.
On January 8, 2020, Rountree was present in court via video conference at 11:15 a.m.
Rountree asked for a public defender.
Rountree’s public defender asked that the bond be lowered because he said Rountree has “nowhere near that amount to post.”
The judge denied the request and the bond stands at $100,000.
The public defender also said Rountree does have supervised visits with his children who are no longer in his custody and was in counseling with DCFS.
Rountree will be back in court on January 17, 2020 at 10 a.m.
