March 16, 2023 Joliet – Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow announced today that a jury found Nicole Vieni, 36, of Chicago, guilty of Aggravated Battery of a Senior Citizen (Class 3 Felony), Domestic Violence (Class A Misdemeanor), and Interfering with Reporting Domestic Violence (Class A Misdemeanor). The jury reached its verdict Wednesday following a trial over which Circuit Judge John Connor presided.

The 78-year-old victim, Vieni’s mother-in-law, was living with the defendant in 2019 when the abuse occurred. The victim was in her bed in her locked bedroom when Vieni, who was intoxicated, broke through the door and struck the victim several times, knocking her to the floor. Vieni then took her mother-in-law’s phone and called 911, alleging that she had been struck by the victim and seeking permission to hit her back. Vieni ultimately admitted on the 911 call that she already had hit the victim. When the police arrived, Vieni was still at the home and her mother-in-law was lying on her bedroom floor unable to get up.  Vieni’s 5-year-old twin girls also were in the home at the time the abuse occurred.

Sentencing is scheduled for May 17.

Glasgow thanked Assistant State’s Attorneys Charlene Recio and Kelly Tebo, Director of Victim Witness Services Nichole Pasteris, Domestic Violence Secretary Christine Kappel, IT Assistant Robert Valiska, and the Will County Sheriff’s Office for their work in this case.

The National Council on Aging estimates that approximately one in 10 Americans aged 60 and over have experienced some form of elder abuse. In almost 60 percent of elder abuse and neglect incidents, the perpetrator is a family member. Two thirds of perpetrators are adult children or spouses.