Former IYC Staffer Pleads Guilty To Sex Acts With Juvenile Inmate

ST. CHARLES, IL — A 33-year-old Berwyn woman who was accused of engaging in sexual conduct with a minor at the juvenile detention center where she worked has been sentenced to 30 months of probation, the Kane County State's Attorney's office announced Monday.

Antionette Perkins pleaded guilty to a felony offense of official misconduct in exchange for probation. Kane County Associate Judge Salvatore LoPiccolo accepted the plea, adding that Perkins must also complete 100 hours of community service by 2024.

Perkins worked as a juvenile justice specialist at the Illinois Youth Center in St. Charles. Prosecutors alleged the sexual misconduct occurred in October 2020, a month before Perkins willingly resigned from her position with the Illinois Department of Corrections.

While the man is no longer a minor, Perkins will still be prohibited from contacting the former inmate as a term of her probation.

"Ms. Perkins was in a position of trust over this 18-year-old IYC inmate. Her criminal actions are magnified because so many IYC inmates are from at-risk situations," said Kane County State's Attorney Jamie Mosser. "They should be able to trust those who are there to look out for their best interests. Instead, Ms. Perkins betrayed the trust of the inmate she took advantage of, along with the community. A conviction for official misconduct means she can no longer be employed by the government in any capacity."

Representatives from the Illinois Youth Center did not immediately respond to a request for comment.