A Chicago man faces a felony charge after an incident at an Elmhurst movie theater where he allegedly made inappropriate physical contact with a teenage girl, DuPage County officials said. The accused, Delbert Patterson, 62, was charged with aggravated battery in a public place, a Class 3 felony, following his First Appearance Court yesterday.
The alleged event occurred on June 29, 2025, around 6:26 p.m. at the York Theatre. According to the complaint against Patterson, he reportedly "used his right hand to stroke the victim's left thigh and left buttocks". The victim, a seventeen-year-old girl, was attending a movie when the incident took place. Charges were laid after Patterson was detained by bystanders outside the theater and later arrested by police.
DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin was quoted in the announcement as underscoring the necessity for legislative adjustments to the Safe-T-Act. "It is alleged that Mr. Patterson's behavior caused what should have been an enjoyable night out at the movies to devolve into an unacceptable violation of the victim's personal space and body," Berlin said. He highlighted how this case "illustrate the need for changes to the State’s Safe-T-Act to give judges more discretion for certain offenses at a defendant’s First Appearance Court hearing."
Elmhurst Chief of Police Michael McLean expressed his dismay at the allegations and praised the response of the community. “I am appalled this individual came to our community to target those attending a movie theater and is alleged to have battered a seventeen-year-old,” McLean told the DuPage County State’s Attorney's Office. He commended the victim for speaking out, her father, and two bystanders whose actions led to the swift apprehension of Patterson.
Patterson was released from custody as required by law, with a condition of his pre-trial release being a prohibition from entering the York Theatre. His next court appearance is set for July 28, 2025, in front of Judge Daniel Guerin. It is important to note, as the authorities emphasized in their announcement, that these charges are only allegations and that Patterson is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
