Office of the
Illinois Attorney General
Kwame Raoul

Schuyler Co. Man Worked at Human Services Rushville Treatment and Detention Facility

Chicago – Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced a former security and therapy aide for the Department of Human Services (DHS) Rushville Treatment and Detention Facility (TDF) was sentenced to 20 years in prison for disseminating child sexual abuse material. The case is part of Raoul’s ongoing work, in collaboration with federal law enforcement agencies and local law enforcement officials throughout Illinois, to apprehend offenders who download and trade child sexual abuse material online. 

Billy R. Ruple Jr., 45, of Rushville, Illinois, was sentenced by Schuyler County Circuit Court Judge Mark Vincent after pleading guilty to two Class X felony counts of dissemination of child pornography.   

“Holding perpetrators accountable for these horrific crimes is crucial for the victims and their families as they work to recover from the trauma,” Raoul said. “My office will continue to collaborate with local law enforcement agencies to protect Illinois’ children and stop the perpetrators who abuse them.”

 In March, Raoul’s investigators, along with officers from the Illinois State Police (ISP), Schuyler County Sheriff’s Office and Rushville Police Department searched Ruple’s home and arrested him after evidence of child sexual abuse material was discovered. 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 co-prosecuted the case with Schuyler County State’s Attorney Chuck Laegeler.  

 “Today, a dangerous individual has been held accountable for exploiting children. This outcome reflects the unwavering dedication of the Illinois State Police, the Illinois Attorney General’s Office, specifically recognizing the outstanding work of Assistant Attorney General Jenifer Peck, my team at the Schuyler County State’s Attorney’s Office, the Schuyler County Sheriff’s Department, and the Rushville Police Department,” Laegeler said. “Our collaborative efforts demonstrate a shared commitment to protecting the most vulnerable members of our community and ensuring that those who traffic in child sexual abuse material are brought to justice.”

 Raoul’s office, with a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, runs the Illinois Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force that investigates child exploitation crimes and trains law enforcement agencies. The task force receives CyberTips, or online reports of child sexual abuse material, from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Over the last several years, CyberTipline reports have steadily increased. In 2024, reports to the ICAC Task Force increased by 11% over 2023.

Illinois’ ICAC Task Force is one of 61 ICAC task forces throughout the country and is comprised of a network of more than 200 local, county, state and federal law enforcement agencies. Since 2019, the Attorney General’s ICAC Task Force has received more than 60,000 CyberTips and has been involved in more than 1,000 arrests of sexual predators. Since 2006, the Attorney General’s ICAC Task Force has been involved in more than 2,400 arrests of sexual predators. In 2024, the task force was involved in rescuing more than 45 child victims from ongoing abuse. The task force also has provided internet safety training and education to tens of thousands of parents, teachers, students and law enforcement professionals.
 
Attorney General Raoul is reminding the public that child sexual exploitation can be reported online at cybertipline.com and child abuse at dcfsonlinereporting.dcfs.illinois.gov. In addition, local child advocacy centers can be found at childrensadvocacycentersofillinois.org. 

Assistant Attorney General Jenifer Peck prosecuted the case for Raoul’s Criminal Division.