A convicted child sex offender admitted Wednesday that he violated probation last December when he played Santa Claus at a party attended by children.
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Taylor Blaul, 33, of Crystal Lake, pleaded guilty in 2015 to aggravated criminal sexual abuse after authorities said he abused a boy on four occasions over the course of several months, including once at a water park in Woodstock.
Blaul was sentenced to four months in jail and three years probation. As part of his conviction in McHenry County, he also was required to register as a sex offender.
Then last December, he was charged with a new felony offense after authorities said he played Santa Claus at a Christmas party at Animal House Shelter in Huntley.
Officials said the act violated laws prohibiting child sex offenders from being in the presence of children under some circumstances.
At the time of his earlier arrest, Blaul was working as a clinical director for Direct Counseling Inc. in Woodstock. He was described on the company’s website as a certified drug and alcohol counselor and a drug and alcohol risk educator and evaluator. His name was removed from the company’s website shortly after he was charged.
Authorities said his victim was not someone he had counseled through the company.
Blaul now faces up to three years in jail or probation when he is sentenced Dec. 6.
The person who answered the phone at the animal shelter Wednesday afternoon said there was currently no one on staff with information about how Blaul was tapped to play Santa Claus at the party.
Amanda Marrazzo is a freelance reporter.
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