East Central Reporter

The number of sex offenders living in Effingham County remained unchanged at 20 in the week ending Jan. 5 compared to the week before, according to the Illinois Police Sex Offender Registry.

Sexual predators and child murderers remain on the registry for the rest of their lives. Sexually violent people are no longer listed 10 years after their conviction.

According to a 2024 study by SafeHome.org, Illinois ranks fifth in the total number of registered sex offenders, with more than 34,000 living in the state.

Nationally, the study found over 795,000 registered sex offenders in the U.S. as of August 2024 — an increase of approximately 8,000 compared to 2023.

Offender	Title	Status	Crime
Johnny Haskins	Non-verified Child Sex Offender	Compliant	Public indecency/exposure/3rd+, Public indecency/lewd exposure and Public indecency/sex
Joseph W. Lureau	Sexual Predator	Compliant	Aggravated criminal sex abuse/bodily harm
Bobby Charles Lee	Sexual Predator	Compliant	Aggravated criminal sex abuse/victim 13-16, Aggravated criminal sexual abuse/victim 9-16 and Violate sex offender registration
Roger A. Weihl	Sexual Predator	Compliant	Aggravated criminal sexual abuse
Scott L. Holmberg	Sexual Predator	Compliant	Aggravated criminal sexual abuse
Chad Michael Spurlock	Sexual Predator	Compliant	Aggravated criminal sexual abuse/victim 13-16
James E. Scott	Sexual Predator	Compliant	Aggravated criminal sexual abuse/victim 13-16
Joseph Weakland	Sexual Predator	Compliant	Aggravated criminal sexual abuse/victim 13-16, Failure to report a change of address/employment and Failure to report annually
Marc Lee Ohnesorge	Sexual Predator	Compliant	Aggravated criminal sexual abuse/victim 13-16
Paul Stephen Ruffner	Sexual Predator	Compliant	Aggravated criminal sexual abuse/victim 13-16
William O. Conner	Sexual Predator	Compliant	Aggravated criminal sexual abuse/victim 13-16
Jose C. Limas	Sexual Predator	Compliant	Aggravated criminal sexual abuse/victim <13
Lester Birk York	Sexual Predator	Compliant	Aggravated criminal sexual assault/victim <9
William W. Klitzing	Sexual Predator	Compliant	Child pornography/film/photos
David A. Bleuer	Sexual Predator	Compliant	Child pornography/reproduce/sell
Merl D. Wheeler	Sexual Predator	Non-Compliant	Criminal sexual abuse force
Robert W. Callis	Sexual Predator	Non-Compliant	Fail to report weekly/no fixed address, Predatory criminal sexual assault and Violate sex offender registration
Berryon Moore	Sexual Predator	Compliant	Indecent solicitation of a child
Sean D. Haas	Sexual Predator	Compliant	Predatory criminal sexual assault
Wade D. Sons	Sexual Predator	Compliant	Predatory criminal sexual assault