Illinois State Police say they arrested a 52-year-old registered child sex offender on Wednesday while he was taking part in a trunk-or-treat event at a church in St. Anne, in Kankakee County. Mitchel R. DeYoung now faces ten criminal counts tied to his status as a registered offender, according to police.
What Police Say Happened
According to Illinois State Police, officers arrested DeYoung on October 28, 2026, at the church trunk-or-treat event in his hometown of St. Anne, where he was participating. The arrest, covered by NBC Chicago, drew attention to the gap between registry rules meant to keep offenders away from children's holiday events and what allegedly happened on the ground.
Police said DeYoung is charged with eight counts of failure to register as a child sex offender, one count of child sex offender in a school zone, and one count of child sex offender participation in a holiday event. Shaw Local, which also covered the arrest, reported that DeYoung was convicted in 2001 of aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a child between the ages of 13 and 16.
Conflicting Accounts On Where DeYoung Is Being Held
Illinois State Police said DeYoung is being held at the Kankakee County Jail pending his first court appearance. Shaw Local, however, reported that he is being held at the Jerome Combs Detention Center in Kankakee awaiting a pretrial detention hearing. The two accounts differ on both the facility and the specific proceeding ahead, and neither account has been reconciled in the available reporting.
As with any criminal case, the charges against DeYoung are allegations, and Illinois State Police note that a defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Rules Meant To Keep Offenders Away From Halloween
State police said registered sex offenders are prohibited from passing out candy on Halloween and from appearing in public in Halloween costumes or dressed as other child-centered holiday characters. The restrictions are part of a broader set of registry rules designed to limit contact between registered offenders and children during the holiday, rules that this case suggests were not followed.
ISP is encouraging parents and guardians to check the registry of sex offenders in their area on the state's website, sor.isp.illinois.gov/sorpublic, before sending kids out trick-or-treating. The agency also advised that children be supervised by a trusted adult, avoid entering strangers' homes or vehicles, and stick to well-lit areas while traveling in groups.
