Sex Offender Pleads Guilty To Playing Santa

MCHENRY COUNTY, IL – A convicted child sex offender pleaded guilty last week to dressing up like and playing Santa Claus at an animal shelter in Huntley. Taylor L. Blaul, 33, of the 5700 block of Aspen Court in Crystal Lake, entered a guilty plea to a charge of child sex offender at a party or holiday event, according to online court records. Dressing up as Santa at a location where children are present as well as wearing an Easter Bunny costume or handing out candy on Halloween, are all prohibited for registered sex offenders.

• Crystal Lake, Cary 2017 Halloween Sex Offender Safety Map
  

Blaul faces a sentence of one to three years in prison during his sentencing on Dec. 6.

Blaul was ordered to register as a sex offender for life after he was convicted in June 2015 of aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a victim under 13. He was also sentenced to four months in jail and to three years or probation.

In that case, Blaul was arrested in 2014 for kissing a young boy at the city pool in Woodstock, the Northwest Herald reports. The boy told police Blaul had fondled him several times between September 2013 and July 2014.

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