Two Wanted Sex Offenders Taken Into Custody

Two registered child sex offenders who had been wanted by the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office are now in custody following separate arrests this week with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service.

Randall E. Knott, 55, of Springfield, was taken into custody at approximately 3:40 p.m. Sept. 10 by members of the U.S. Marshals Service’s Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force. Knott was located at an address in Springfield and arrested without incident.

Knott had been wanted on a charge of failure to register as a sex offender. In July, Sangamon County detectives learned that Knott had left Illinois without authorization after detectives in Tulsa, Oklahoma, contacted the Sheriff’s Office following an encounter with him.

After determining that Knott would not face charges in Oklahoma, Sangamon County detectives obtained a warrant for his arrest for failure to register as a sex offender. The Sheriff’s Office later sought assistance from the public in locating him.

Following his arrest, Knott was transported to the Sangamon County Jail to await a first appearance.

Knott’s arrest came two days after another registered child sex offender wanted by the Sheriff’s Office was taken into custody.

Frederick E. Britz, 60, of Springfield, was located and arrested Sept. 8 with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service. Britz had been wanted on charges of failure to register as a sex offender and child sex offender residing within 500 feet of a playground.

Britz was also transported to the Sangamon County Jail following his arrest.

“There is no place in our community for individuals who prey on children and refuse to follow the laws designed to protect the public,” Sheriff Paula Crouch said. “I am glad these two offenders are off the streets and in custody, and I appreciate the work of our detectives, the U.S. Marshals Service and the public who helped us locate them.”