Man Apprehended In New Lenox Sex Assault Had Loaded Gun: Sheriff

NEW LENOX, IL — The Will County Sheriff's Office arrested a man Tuesday wanted in New Lenox for criminal sexual assault, according to a Facebook post by WCSO.

Deshawn C. Matthews, 32, was arrested Tuesday in the 7800 block of S. Essex Ave. in Chicago. Police said that on May 2, 2021, Matthews sexually assaulted someone that he invited to his residence for a play date with their children in the 1000 block of Shagbark Court in New Lenox. Matthews and the person went into a bedroom while the children played. Matthews then locked the door and forcibly sexually assaulted the person, according to WCSO.

Following Matthews' arrest Tuesday, police found an AR-15-style pistol on a bed inside the Chicago residence, according to WCSO. The pistol was located near a pair of jeans with Matthews’ ID inside a pants pocket, according to WCSO. The pistol had the serial numbers defaced, and the weapon was fully loaded, according to WCSO.

Court documents show that Matthews had previously been convicted of interfering with the reporting of domestic battery in December 2017 and residential burglary in January 2013.

Matthews was taken to the Chicago Police Department, 5th District, for processing and will be later transferred to Cook County Jail, according to WCSO. The Cook County State's Attorney is reviewing additional charges of unlawful use of a weapon by a felon and defacing identification marks, according to WCSO.

Members of the United States Marshall Service and the Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force also assisted in the arrest, according to WCSO.