Former Village Employee Registers As 'Violent Offender' on State Registry

A retired Village of Oak Lawn employee, who pleaded guilty to felony aggravated battery charges, has registered as a violent offender with the Illinois State Police’s Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth state registry.

Michael T. Kelly, 56, of the 9400 block of South Nordica Avenue, was sentenced to two years’ probation and anger management classes after he admitted to choking a 14-year-old girl on Aug. 29, 2011.

Prosecutors said that Kelly rammed his bike into the 14-year-old girl, and then grabbed her off her own bike in chokehold. Kelly held the girl down on the ground in a headlock and punched her in the head until witnesses stopped him and he fled the scene.

He was found hiding in a garden, authorities said, and later told police he had “snapped.”

At his 2012 sentencing, Kelly’s attorney said that his client had no prior history of violence and called the incident an “aberration” and one-time mistake.

A 30-year employee of the Oak Lawn Public Works Department, Kelly was considered a “good employee.” Former co-workers described him as a "great guy" and expressed shock after he was accused of attacking a child.

Similar to the Illinois Sex Offender Registry, offenders are required by law to register with the state’s database in compliance with the Illinois Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Registration Act.

Those offenders convicted of violent crimes against children must register annually in person with their local law enforcement agency for a period of ten years after the start of their parole or probation.

Offenders convicted of murder are required to register annually for the rest of their life.

The registration must be updated if the offender changes residences, jobs or vehicles.

Kelly met with Oak Lawn police and completed his state registration on July 9. Kelly acknowledged that he is not registered and must do so, police said.