(MT. VERNON, IL) — With opening arguments delivered in a Jefferson County jury trial in which a wife is expected to testify against her husband, the defense is now alleging the wife was the person responsible for a savage beating that caused a 3-year-old boy to suffer a stroke. Michael Belmont is charged with Class X felony aggravated battery to a child resulting in permanent disability, Class 3 felony aggravated battery causing bodily harm, and Class 2 aggravated domestic battery. His wife, Kaysie Belmont, pleaded guilty earlier this month to Class 4 felony reckless conduct and was sentenced to 30 month probation for not seeking immediate emergency medical help for the toddler boy who was not their child. Charges of Class 3 felony Aggravated battery to a child causing bodily harm, Class A misdemeanor domestic battery, two misdemeanor charges of causing a child to be endangered and a second charge of reckless conduct were all dismissed in exchange for her guilty plea to the one count and her agreement to testify honestly against her husband. But a defense attorney for Michael Belmont on Wednesday told a Jefferson County jury that evidence will show that Kaysie Belmont, and not Michael Belmont, was responsible for the toddler’s injuries that included trauma to the legs, torso and head. The child reportedly suffered a stroke and was treated for brain injuries.