Image sources: Jonathan Daniel Lyon via Macon County Inmate Inquiry. Google Street View of Grace Baptist Church in Decatur, Illinois, where Lyon was previously a youth leader, © Google, via Google Maps.
Jonathan Daniel Lyon, a 31-year-old former church youth leader, is facing criminal charges in Macon County, Illinois, related to the alleged sexual abuse of a minor that began nearly 15 years ago. According to WCIA, “there are other, more recent allegations that so far have not resulted in charges.”
Formal Charges and Court Conditions
Lyon was arrested on July 16, 2025, and appeared in Macon County Circuit Court on July 18, where he was charged with three misdemeanor counts of criminal sexual abuse. According to court records, the alleged abuse occurred when the victim was between the ages of 9 and 17.
He has been released under strict pretrial conditions, including GPS monitoring and an order not to contact any of the alleged victims.
His next court date is scheduled for August 22, 2025.
Prior Church Involvement
Before his arrest, Lyon was a youth leader at Grace Baptist Church in Decatur, Illinois. Allegedly, Lyon’s connection to the church ended in 2021 or 2022, after the pastor raised concerns about inappropriate TikTok videos he had posted. Detective Kristina Kemnitz said that one of the videos “alluded to underage girls.” (WCIA) Lyon left the church after being confronted.
The pastor also mentioned an earlier incident from 2019, when Lyon was reportedly sending videos to a teenage girl.
According to Detective Kemnitz, the pastor “believed there was nothing inappropriate in the videos” but still intervened to stop the communication, given the age difference—Lyon was 24 or 25, and the girl was believed to be 15 or 16 at the time. The girl’s mother reportedly did not raise any concerns, and communication between them ended after that.
Grace Baptist Church has not publicly commented on the case.
Criminal Investigation Launched in 2023
The current criminal case against Jonathan Lyon originated from a police investigation launched in 2023, after a friend of Lyon’s contacted law enforcement. The friend had received a Facebook message from an 18-year-old woman who said she had been in a relationship with Lyon that had recently ended and expressed concern about his alleged interest in underage girls.
In a subsequent interview with detectives, the woman reported that she met Lyon through church when she was 17 years old. He was 29. She said the two began a relationship that lasted approximately two years, but denied that they ever engaged in sexual activity. She ultimately ended the relationship after hearing “‘rumors that Jonathan had an unhealthy desire to be with underage girls.’” (WCIA) She said she had no specific knowledge of abuse involving other underage girls.
In June 2025, an additional disclosure was made to law enforcement. A woman reported that “in 2018, Lyon committed multiple sexual assaults in Clinton with the victim being a 14-year-old girl who went to Grace Baptist.” (WCIA)
Police Detail Repeated Encounters with Underage Girls
During their investigation of the allegation from 2018, authorities received another report of abuse, which ultimately led to Lyon’s current charges. An individual disclosed that she first met Lyon around 2010, when she was 11 and he was 17. She reported that they engaged in sexual conduct beginning the following year at Lyon’s car or at Oak Grove Park in Decatur. This continued until she was 14.
She also recalled an incident in which police approached Lyon’s vehicle while the two were inside. Lyon stated he was her youth leader and they were “‘just discussing the word of God.’” (WCIA)
In 2022, the Clinton Police documented an encounter in which Lyon was found in a vehicle within their jurisdiction with two teenage girls, reportedly between the ages of 16 and 17. One of the teenagers told authorities she “knew there was stuff going on” between Lyon and the other girl. When asked what she meant, she clarified: “sexually.” (WCIA)
Lyon Describes ‘Friendship’ With a Minor During Police Interviews
Lyon was arrested on July 16, 2025, by Decatur Police. During interviews with detectives from both Decatur and Clinton, he admitted to what he called a “friendship” with an underage girl that involved exchanging letters and Facebook messages of a sexual nature. He acknowledged kissing the girl and told investigators he could not recall who initiated physical contact.
According to Detective Kemnitz, “‘Lyon also said he had a similar relationship with two others between 2018 and 2023.’”
Could Grace Baptist Church Be Held Liable?
Despite reported concerns dating back to 2019, there is no indication that church leadership ever contacted law enforcement. If they were aware of Lyon’s conduct but failed to take any meaningful action, they may be held civilly liable.
Under Illinois law, youth-serving institutions like churches have a duty to protect children from foreseeable harm. If a church knew about or suspected abuse and failed to notify authorities or implement safeguards, it can be held accountable in civil court.
Illinois Civil Statute of Limitations: No Deadline for Survivors
Illinois law allows survivors of childhood sexual abuse to file a civil lawsuit at any time, no matter how long ago the abuse occurred. A lawsuit can be filed against an institution—such as a church, school, or youth organization—that enabled the abuse or failed to act on warning signs.
If a survivor was under the age of 18 when the abuse occurred, they may still be eligible to seek justice through a civil claim, even decades later.
We Help Survivors Understand Their Legal Options
If you or someone you love were abused by Jonathan Lyon or another religious leader, you are not alone. Our firm represents survivors of childhood sexual abuse in civil lawsuits against the institutions that failed to protect them.
Whether you are ready to pursue a lawsuit or simply want to ask questions, we are here to help. We offer free, confidential consultations to help survivors understand their legal options.
Contact us today.
