Schuyler County authorities arrested a Rushville man Thursday on multiple child pornography possession charges.
44-year old Billy R. Ruple, Jr. is currently lodged at the Schuyler County Jail and has been charged with 12 counts of reproduction of child pornography by the Schuyler County State’s Attorney’s Office.
No further information on Ruple’s arrest is available. He is scheduled for a first appearance in court this morning.
UPDATE March 23, 2025: The Illinois Attorney General’s office has announced they have brought the charges against Ruple, who was identified as a security and therapy aide for the Department of Human Services Rushville Treatment and Detention Facility. The Attorney General’s office charged Ruple in Schuyler County Circuit Court with two counts of dissemination of child pornography, each Class X felonies punishable by up to 30 years in prison; and 10 counts of possession of child pornography, Class 2 felonies punishable by up to seven years in prison. Ruple is currently detained at the Schuyler County Jail, and his next court date is scheduled for Monday, March 31.
Raoul’s investigators, along with officers from the Illinois State Police (ISP), Schuyler County Sheriff’s Office and Rushville Police Department conducted a search of Ruple’s residence in the 100 block of Anderson St. in Rushville on March 20. Ruple was taken into custody after investigators discovered evidence of child sexual abuse material. At the time of his arrest, Ruple was employed at DHS’ Treatment and Detention Facility, which houses sexually violent offenders. Under the Sexually Violent Persons Commitment Act, a person must have been convicted of a sexually violent offense and suffer from a mental disorder to be held at the TDF.
Raoul’s office is prosecuting this case with Schuyler County State’s Attorney’s office.