Indiana fugitive arrested in Cook County for failing to register as sex offender; prosecutors decline charges

Authorities have arrested a 54-year-old Indiana woman who failed to register as a sex offender, though prosecutors declined to approve additional charges, the Cook County Sheriff's Office said.

What we know:

Tamara Lucas was taken into custody in Chicago Heights by the Sheriff’s Fugitive Apprehension Unit, working alongside the U.S. Marshals Taskforce. 

Lucas was wanted on an outstanding arrest warrant issued in Johnson County, Indiana, for failing to comply with sex offender registration requirements.

Lucas was convicted in 2018 for sexual misconduct with a minor and is legally required to register annually. Investigators say she has not complied with that requirement since 2022.

Tamara Lucas

Fugitive Apprehension investigators recently determined her location in Chicago Heights and made the arrest. 

While investigators attempted to obtain felony charges for failure to register as a sex offender, the State’s Attorney’s Office declined to approve them.

What we don't know:

Authorities have not provided additional details regarding Lucas' custody status or whether Indiana prosecutors plan to pursue further legal action.

The Source: The information in this article was provided by the Cook County Sheriff’s Fugitive Apprehension Unit and the U.S. Marshals Taskforce.

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