GRANITE CITY – Felony charges were filed last week against two Granite City sex offenders in unrelated Madison County cases.
Zavien A. Holt, 24, of the 3000 block of Sunbury Avenue in Granite City, was charged on Sept. 25, 2026 with a Class 4 felony count of presence within a school zone by a child sex offender.
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Holt is accused of knowingly loitering within 500 feet of a school building or school property while students under the age of 18 were present on Sept. 24, 2026. Charging documents list the property as Frohardt Elementary School at 2040 Johnson Road in Granite City.
Holt’s presence on the school property was a violation of Illinois law given his status as a child sex offender. The Illinois State Police sex offender registry currently lists Holt as “compliant,” having most recently registered on the same day he was charged in this case.
Another local sex offender was charged in a separate case with his latest failure to register with police.
20-year-old Allen L. Kearnes, listed as homeless with a previous address in the 2900 block of Myrtle Avenue in Granite City, faces a Class 3 felony count of unlawful failure to register as a sex offender filed on Sept. 22, 206.
The day prior on Sept. 21, Kearnes allegedly failed to register as a sex offender without a fixed address in person on a weekly basis with the Granite City Police Chief as required under the Sex Offender Registration Act.
The latest case against Kearnes comes two weeks after he was charged with failing to register with the Pontoon Beach Police Department and being present at a public park, specifically Memorial Park in Granite City.
Kearnes is now listed as “compliant” in the Illinois State Police sex offender registry, having most recently registered on Sept. 21, 2026.
The Granite City Police Department presented both cases against Holt and Kearnes, both of whom currently remain in custody at the Madison County Jail.
All individuals charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
