ST. ANNE, IL — A registered sex offender was arrested while attending a trunk-or-treat event in St. Anne, Illinois State Police said Friday.
On Wednesday, state police arrested Mitchel R. DeYoung, 52, of St. Anne, after he was found at the event where youngsters collect treats from vehicles in a parking lot.
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. All are felonies, state police said.
The Illinois Sex Offender Registry shows that DeYoung's crime was aggravated criminal sexual abuse. His victim was 13; DeYoung was 25.
DeYoung is now being held at the Kankakee County Jail pending his first court appearance.
RELATED: Manhattan 2026 Sex Offender Halloween Safety Map
Illinois law prohibits all sex offenders who committed a crime against a child from distributing candy, in addition to prohibiting them from participating in trick-or-treat events or other Halloween events involving children younger than 18, according to Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul.
Registered sex offenders are prohibited from passing out candy on Halloween. They may not appear in a Halloween costume or other child-centered holiday character, such as Santa or the Easter Bunny, in public.
Sex offenders on parole, mandatory supervised release and probation may have other conditions imposed upon them to protect the public. They may be prohibited from having their porch lights on and from leaving their homes, except for verified work purposes.
As of October 2025, there were more than 34,000 registered offenders listed on the Illinois Offender Registry, and more than 20,000 of those committed a crime against a minor. Before heading out for trick-or-treating, parents and guardians can check for registered sex offenders in their area on the ISP Sex Offender Registry website. The interactive website allows users to track offenders' home addresses, which sends notifications to participants when a registered offender moves in or out of a given radius around the provided address.
Raoul on Friday also reminded parents and guardians to check the state's sex offender registry before finalizing Halloween plans and determining trick-or-treat routes for their children.
"With many Halloween activities coming up this weekend, I am encouraging parents, grandparents and guardians to keep their families safe by checking the Illinois State Police Offender Registry before leaving home," Raoul said. "While Illinois law prohibits child sex offenders from distributing candy, searching the registry is a simple step that families can take before leaving home to ensure everyone has a happy and safe Halloween."
When trick-or-treating, children should be supervised by a trusted adult and should never enter strangers' homes or vehicles. ISP urges trick-or-treaters to travel in well-lit areas and in groups.
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