A man who attempted to abduct a 13-year-old boy from a Humboldt Park street last year, just a week after being placed under electronic monitoring for alleged drug sales nearby, has been sentenced to six years in prison.
Devontay Kenny, 33, admitted to one count of unlawful restraint related to the February 24, 2025, incident on the 3700 block of West Division Street. In response, prosecutors dismissed charges of child abduction and aggravated battery.
Kenny reportedly followed the boy down the street, attempting to engage him by stating he “likes little boys and girls,” according to court documents. Despite the boy’s refusal to stop, Kenny allegedly grabbed him by the sweater and pushed him against a wall to prevent him from leaving.
After a struggle, the boy managed to escape and sought help at a nearby convenience store. Witnesses who confronted Kenny reported that he attempted to claim he was the boy’s uncle, officials stated.
On Monday, Judge John Lyke sentenced Kenny and required him to register as a violent offender against youth, clarifying that the incident was not sexually motivated.
A week prior to the incident, Kenny was placed on nighttime curfew with an electronic monitoring device following allegations of selling heroin and cocaine at locations on West Harrison Street and North Pulaski Road, court records indicate. The drug charges were later dropped three weeks after his arrest for the assault.
Court records also reveal Kenny’s history of felony convictions related to narcotics, as well as a 2017 conviction for aggravated robbery.
