Homeless Woman Choked Inside Tent Belonging To Joliet Sex Offender: Police

JOLIET — Matthew Duhon, a 48-year-old homeless convicted sex offender from Texas who relocated to Joliet to live inside a tent near West Jefferson Street, now finds himself lodged in the Will County Jail for the fourth time since last July. His latest arrest by the Joliet police happened this week and it pertains to allegations of choking a woman.

According to the Joliet Police Department's latest arrest report, Duhon was taken to the Will County Jail on Tuesday for charges of domestic battery. He remains in custody as of Thursday night,

Joliet police spokesman Dwayne English said the following events happened just before 7 p.m. on April 29:

At 6:57 p.m., the officers responded to the area of West Jefferson Street and Larkin Avenue for a domestic battery. Officers learned Duhon and his girlfriend are currently homeless. While inside a tent near the 1800 block of West Jefferson Street, it is alleged that Duhon grew angry and choked the victim, English noted.

English said that Duhon then left the area, and the officers spotted Duhon approximately an hour later in the 1800 block of West Jefferson Street where he was placed into custody without any problems.

In November, Joliet Patch reported that Duhon, had been arrested by Joliet police after officers were flagged down near Republic Avenue and Glenwood Avenue shortly after 3 a.m. for a domestic disturbance. Officers learned that Duhon was in an argument with a woman while near a tent in a wooded area near the 2400 block of Glenwood Avenue, according to Joliet police.

Police said Duhon pushed the woman down and began striking her in the face. According to officials, Duhon then took the victim’s phone so she could not call police.

In July, Patch ran a story headlined, "Joliet Sex Offender Arrested At Will Co. Forest Preserve: Complaint." Patch reported that Duhon was a convicted sexual offender out of Texas now living in Joliet and he was arrested by the Will County Forest Preserve Police at the Lake Chaminwood Forest Preserve on West Shepley Road in rural Minooka.

Prosecutors noted that Duhon is a child sex offender who knowingly was present at the Lake Chaminwood Forest Preserve near Minooka around 3:20 p.m. on July 5. Duhon's arrest was made by the Will County Forest Preserve District police.

The Illinois State Police sex offender registry indicates Duhon's victim was 15 years old, and he was 31 at the time of his crime in Texas: aggravated criminal sexual abuse.