Crime & Safety
Kankakee County, IL: Sex Offender Arrested at Halloween Event
KANKAKEE, IL – With Halloween approaching Saturday, Illinois State Police are warning parents about child safety after arresting a registered child sex offender at a church Trunk or Treat event in Kan
By Caleb Mercer · 2026-10-30T17:54:01.325Z
KANKAKEE, IL – With Halloween approaching Saturday, Illinois State Police are warning parents about child safety after arresting a registered child sex offender at a church Trunk or Treat event in Kankakee County earlier this week.
According to Illinois State Police, 52 year old Mitchel R. DeYoung of St. Anne was arrested Wednesday, Oct. 28, after investigators located him at a Halloween event in St. Anne, a community southeast of the Kankakee Bradley area.
DeYoung faces 10 felony counts, including eight counts of failure to register as a child sex offender, classified as Class 2 felonies. He also faces one count of being a child sex offender in a school zone and one count of child sex offender participation in a holiday event, both Class 4 felonies.
Police said DeYoung was being held at the Kankakee County Jail pending his first court appearance.
The arrest comes as families across Kankakee County and Illinois prepare for Halloween activities this weekend.
Illinois State Police reminded residents that registered sex offenders are prohibited from distributing Halloween candy. They also cannot appear publicly in Halloween costumes or portray child centered holiday characters, including Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny.
Authorities encourage parents and guardians to review the Illinois Sex Offender Registry before taking children trick or treating. The registry includes information about registered offenders and an interactive mapping tool that allows residents to monitor changes involving offenders near a specified address.
Families can access the registry at https://sor.isp.illinois.gov .
Police also recommend that children travel in groups, remain in well lit areas, stay with trusted adults and never enter strangers' homes or vehicles.
The charges against DeYoung are allegations, and he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.