Man Who Broke Into High School In Downers Grove Denied Pretrial Release: Prosecutors

DOWNERS GROVE, IL — A Chicago man accused of breaking into Downers North High School and forcing an employee to search for money has been denied pretrial release. Deon McLaughlin, 56, was out on pretrial release for previous charges of aggravated battery to a victim 60 years or older, unlawful restraint and criminal trespassing when the Dec. 10 incident took place.

McLaughlin was arrested in Chicago on Dec. 12. He has been charged with burglary in a school, attempted robbery and aggravated battery to a school employee.

According to DuPage County State's Attorney's Office, McLaughlin forced his way into the school through a window just before midnight. Around 1:30 a.m., a maintenance worker heard noises in an alumni room and saw McLaughlin, who then approached her.

Prosecutors say McLaughlin forced the woman through the school by putting his hands on the back of her neck and demanded she find money. The woman called 911 and alerted another employee.

McLaughlin fled when the second employee confronted him, a news release said.

“It is alleged that in the middle of the night, Mr. McLaughlin broke into Downer Grove North High School, accosted an overnight worker who was just trying to make a living and physically forced her to search the school for money,” DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said in a statement.

Berlin added, e“Mr. McLaughlin’s alleged actions not only terrorized an innocent woman but also victimized the entire community. While Mr. McLaughlin was detained on today’s charges, I want to note that less than one month ago, Mr. McLaughlin was charged with aggravated battery – victim 60+ years old, unlawful restraint and criminal trespass to a residence, all nondetainable offenses under the State’s Safe-T-Act. The allegations that Mr. Laughlin allegedly committed additional serious felony offenses while on pre-trial release further illustrates what I have been saying for quite some time that the State’s Safe-T-Act needs to be amended to give judges more discretion for certain offenses at a defendant’s First Appearance Court hearing and that Judges, not the legislature, are in the best position to decide whether a defendant should be detained pre-trial."

McLaughlin is set to appear in court Jan. 5.